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July 20, 2011 By News Staff
The full-body scanners used to screen passengers at airport security checkpoints will be getting new software that will discontinue “passenger-specific” images, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Wednesday, July 20.
The revealing images, decried by privacy advocates and the general public, had been designed to spot weapons and other contraband concealed on a passenger’s body. But the TSA’s “millimeter wave Advanced Imaging Technology machines” gave security screeners an X-ray view of a passenger’s naked body, including genitalia. Last year, some of these embarrassing images were leaked online.
A software upgrade, called Automated Target Recognition, “will auto-detect items that could pose a potential threat using a generic outline of a person for all passengers,” according to the TSA announcement on Wednesday. The location of potential threats is indicated on a generic, computer-generated outline of a person that appears on a monitor attached to the scanner. “Further, a separate TSA officer will no longer be required to view the image in a remotely located viewing room,” according to the TSA.
Passengers will be able to see the same body image the TSA agent sees.
As with current policy, if the scan detects a potential threat, a TSA agent will pat-down the passenger.
“This software upgrade enables us to continue providing a high level of security through advanced imaging technology screening, while improving the passenger experience at checkpoints,” TSA Administrator John Pistole said in a statement.
The new software, developed by the TSA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate, was successfully tested in February at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Las Vegas’ McCarran International and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports.
The TSA began installing the body scanners in 2007, and many of them were funded by the federal stimulus. According to the federal government, there are nearly 500 imaging technology units at 78 airports nationwide.
Last week a federal appeals court ruled that the TSA’s use of the full-body scanners is constitutional.
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Where is the "phased out" part in this article?
Still nothing to address the health concerns, though. As someone with a family history of cancer, and a frequent traveler, I'll never walk through one of those things.
Get rid of the harmful scanners altogether! Stop this nonsense and give us our dignity you TOOK from us. I NEVER voted for these invasive machines OR their illegal search activities, so who the hell let them put them in place? And STOP molesting people! I am an AMERICAN citizen! I stand by MY constitution. The fourth amendment states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." If you want to search a NON american you have my blessing, as those people don't abide by MY constitution! Make two lines at the airport: "Citizens" and "NON citizens" The TSA people should also take the time to READ the US Constitution! Plain and simple, the TSA people are breaking the law, and not being arrested for it!
Agreed.... when should I hope to see the trucks taking the giant rapid-scan machines OUT of my local airport?