TSA Body Scanners To Show Less Revealing Images

tgtanman writes "The Washington Post reports that the TSA will begin installing new software on millimeter wave body scanners at 41 airports that will replace the controversial body images with generic images of the body. While the change is currently limited to millimeter wave scanners, similar upgrades for backscatter scanners is being developed, according to the TSA. The ACLU has applauded the changes but continues to note other concerns with the scanners."

Comments

As long as Chertoff is still getting his kickbacks

[antifoidulus]

Let's be perfectly clear on this, the purpose of these body scanners was NEVER to increase security, it was a gigantic kickback to former homeland security chief Michael Chertoff who received very well documented "consulting" positions with the company that makes those scanners. They are no more secure than competing, less invasive scanners, but the manufacturers of those scanners obviously didn't bribe the right officials.

Re:Does it matter?

[blindseer]

These scanners come in two varieties, one uses millimeter waves and the other uses x-rays. X-rays will pass through clothing, and people, but the detectors are placed and tuned in a way that only the X-rays that bounce off skin and solid objects is detected.

I am guessing the X-ray machines are cheaper which is why they are more popular.

This isn't for the X-ray ones

[Sycraft-fu]

It is for the millimeter wave ones. Those ones are not ionizing radiation (as the wavelength indicates, it is below visible light). Remember there are two different kinds of body scanners out there.