Air Travelers Stripped Bare With X-ray Machine

[Guest guest]

[Not only is this an unnecessary invasion of privacy,

considering effective security measures are already

utilized at airports, but you gotta love how this

'corporate media' article doesn't even mention the

carcinogenic dangers involved with X-rays. Especially

'frequent X-rays' for 'frequent flyer's'...I'm taking

the train from now on. Rick.]

 

 

Air travelers stripped bare with X-ray machine

 

By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY

 

Source >

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-05-15-airport-xray-bottomstrip_x.htm

 

The agency in charge of the nation's air security

expects later this year to begin using a controversial

X-ray machine that will show airport screeners a clear

picture of what's under passengers' clothes — whether

weapons or just bare skin.

 

The new system makes it easy to see possibly

dangerous devices.

Rapiscan Systems

 

Screeners plan to test the " backscatter " machines at

several U.S. airports, the Transportation Security

Administration (TSA) says. The refrigerator-sized

machines are considered a breakthrough in scanning

technology but have been labeled " a virtual strip

search " by the American Civil Liberties Union.

(Related story: Airports test 'futureworld' devices)

 

Security workers using the machines can see through

clothes and peer at whatever may be hidden in

undergarments, shirts or pants. The images also paint

a revealing picture of a person's nude body.

 

The devices can potentially be used to screen hundreds

of millions of air travelers each year, although TSA

says more study is needed to determine how the devices

may be used at U.S. airports. The agency declined to

say when and where it expects to test the machines.

 

Backscatter technology has been waiting on the

sidelines for nearly four years but seems poised now

to move to the forefront of aviation security. The

machines are already used by U.S. Customs agents at 12

airports to screen passengers suspected of carrying

drugs. They're also getting a test run at a terminal

in London Heathrow Airport, the first major airport to

use them.

 

The ACLU says the scanners invade personal privacy.

" This leads directly to a surveillance society, " says

Barry Steinhardt, who runs the group's technology

program.

 

But Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told

a Senate subcommittee last month that he wants to

employ the technology and doesn't want an " endless

debate " over privacy issues.

 

Security consultant Douglas Laird says the machines

are essential to spot explosives, which aren't

detected by metal detectors.

 

The $100,000 machines bounce low-radiation X-rays off

a person's skin to produce photo-like computer images

of metal, plastic and organic materials hidden under

clothes, says American Science and Engineering. The

TSA is testing its BodySearch machine.