Bob contradicted himself in the statement above. In his original post when images were released he stated they were the exact images TSA employees viewed.
edit to add: On the TSA Blog Bob Burns, TSA Blogger stated the following:
5.09.2008
You asked for it...You got it, Millimeter Wave images.
Here are the much requested, much anticipated, full body images of millimeter wave - both front and back, male and female just like so many of you asked for.
These were provided to TSA by the manufacturer of the technology, L-3. We asked L-3 to blur the facial features just like they are blurred when our officers see the images in Phoenix, Baltimore, LAX and JFK. These are exactly what officers see at airports today and will see in future deployments.While we have said this many times, it bears repeating, TSA will not keep, store or transmit images. Once deleted, they are gone forever. For additional privacy, the officer viewing the image is in a separate room and will never see the passenger and the officer attending to the passenger will never see the image. The officers have 2-way radios to communicate with other in case a threat object is identified.I venture to say, Mikhail Baryshnikov may have exposed more in his ballet costume than these robotic images portray.
Why did we decide to put them up now? Because you've asked for it... Hopefully the editors of Reader's Digest will consider these for their next cover.
What do you think?
- Bob
later TSA's Bob Burns stated this:
You guys are killing me (and others) with this. These pictures were provided to TSA by the vendor. I have never claimed they are the exact size and resolution that our officers see. I have provided video examples showing what our officers see. I have requested the resolution and size and was told it was proprietary information that I could not release. I'm still looking into being able to get that info for you, but I can't promise anything.
Thanks,
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
February 3, 2010 1:22 PM
So on 05/09/2008 WBI images were exactly what TSA screening clerks were seeing yet on 02/03/2010 they suddenly are not exactly what TSA screening clerks were seeing.
With this level of dishonesty from TSA's people who communicate with the public how can anything stated by any TSA employee be trusted.
I suggest that nothing coming out of TSA should be taken at face value.