DHS Tries To Hide Mobile Scanner Details

OverTheGeicoE writes "The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a Freedom of Information Act request last year (PDF) with the US Department of Homeland Security, whose Transportation Security Administration has been investigating the use of x-ray scanning technology for covert use in more public places, like train stations and even ordinary city streets. TSA has tested interesting devices like the Z Backscatter Vans both privately and on members of the general public. EPIC recently received new documents from DHS. Some of the documents are almost completely black from redactions."

Comments

Doing a good job, too

[chill]

The YouTube video in the first link is already yanked.

Re:Doing a good job, too

[Fluffeh]

If you repeat the same lie enough, people will start to believe it.

- We are doing this for YOUR safety. There is nothing here you need to worry about. Everything is OK.

So what if

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm walking down the street with a concealed handgun (perfectly legal in 30+ states) and the DHS van shows I'm packing heat. Next thing I know I'm on the ground with a knee in my back and automatic weapons pointed at me. Is this how it's going to work? Because if that's how it's going down, I see no reason not to overthrow this government now before it gets much worse. I'd rather live under anarchic self-rule than this nanny-state bullshit.

Re:So what if

[http]

It's not nanny state. The aim is interference, not nurturing.

Re:Take a look at the FOIA doc

[dgatwood]

This is where you file a FOIA complaint and they get to sit there in front of a judge and explain why they deliberately attempted to evade a properly filed FOIA request with such a ridiculous response.

Unfortunately, as far as I know, FOIA has no teeth, i.e. there's no way to prosecute these clowns for even such flagrant abuse. However, if a judge forces the information to be released and it is legally actionable information, they could potentially be charged with obstruction.