Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

TSA Finishes Removing "Virtual Nude" X-Ray Devices From US Airports

Posted by timothy on from the now-that-you're-fully-desensitized dept.

dsinc writes "The Transportation Security Administration announced it has finished removing from all airports the X-ray technology that produced graphic and controversial images of passengers passing through security screening checkpoints. The machines, which the TSA first deployed in 2008, provoked public outrage as the technology, better able than traditional X-rays to detect hidden contraband, also created images that appeared as if they were 'virtual nudes.' Critics called this an invasion of privacy and questioned whether the scanning devices truly lacked the ability to save the images, as the TSA claimed."

4 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Misleading summary, as usual by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The scanners are still there. They still get the digital data of a virtual nude. They just pass that through an algorithm that replaces the image with a stick figure before the image is shown to the operator.

    The government still gets the detailed biometric identifying information it wants, the digital 3d model of your nude body still gets stored in the databases they deny exist. They just don't show it to the operator now, so everyone feels better.

  2. Better name: Radiation Scanners by steveha · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't care that much about the "Virtual Nude" thing. (Although I might care more if I were an attractive young female, I guess.)

    My objection to the thing is the X-ray radiation. I am by no means convinced these things are safe.

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=us-glossed-over-cancer-concerns

    Four doctors from the University of California, San Francisco wrote an open letter expressing their grave concerns based on their expertise. They listed dangers of these scanners and requested to see the safety studies and get access to the raw data of the safety studies; they also asked for the names of the people who conducted the safety studies. The government's answer boiled down to "our experts have studied this and it's safe". Completely non-responsive to the listed concerns and not sharing any data.

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126833083

    So I never yet have let them scan me; I always have requested the pat-down. When they ask if I would prefer it in private, I tell them no. I'd rather the patdown be out in the open where anyone could watch. I have no particular reason to think any TSA agent would give me extra trouble in private, but I'd prefer as much publicity as possible.

    I guess millimeter wave isn't ionizing radiation? That's a giant improvement right there. Maybe the new machines are safe? Safer, anyway.

    --
    lf(1): it's like ls(1) but sorts filenames by extension, tersely
    1. Re:Better name: Radiation Scanners by GoChickenFat · · Score: 3, Interesting
      My last trip to the airport the pilot and crew were allowed just in front of me. There was only one open lane and it was for the body scanner. When the crew showed up they opened the old magnetic line so I tried to join right behind them (btw, the body scanner line was completely open with no one waiting). The TSA agent said "you can go over to the other line". I said no I don't want to go through the body scanner. He said why not and I simply said I don't want to. He asked again why not. I said well if it was safe why isn't the crew going through it (I got a couple funny smiles back from the crew). He said why are you asking so many questions and then added if I go through I'd get an extra pat down. At that point I just kept following the crew through and he didn't stop me. I did get just my legs checked by another TSA agent - no big deal.

      The other thing I've noticed is if you travel with young children they take you out of line and directly to the magnetic scanner. Not just your child and one parent but your entire family. For me it was four adult family members along with my 4yr old - no extra pat down needed.

      in summary - the body scanners cannot be completely safe and they know it.

  3. Re:Analog hole by fredklein · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Of course it was Bullshit. The spec documents the TSA put out for the machines specifically required them to be able to save and transmit the images!

    Google for 'epic tsa spec', and find this: http://epic.org/open_gov/foia/TSA_Procurement_Specs.pdf

    (Not to mention, how'd they get the sample images they show on TSA.gov, if the machines cannot save and transfer images??)