BLI-Flyer

Sea-Tac International Airport passengers will soon begin undergoing full-body scans as the federal government installs equipment that will help identify terrorist threats but poses concerns about privacy, health risks and longer waits in security lines.

. . .

"Every passenger has the option to refuse to go through these," and walk through a metal detector instead, Baird said. Those who do will be subject to a pat-down, a procedure that takes extra time, but one that privacy experts recommend for those who feel uncomfortable.

"People should not just accept this as a foregone conclusion," said Ginger McCall, staff counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, D.C. Her organization has filed sued to stop the use of body scans, charging they are the equivalent of a digital strip-search.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...canners19.html

FriendlySkies

That stinks. I was planning a visit to Seattle in October to visit a friend. Now I may reconsider!

TBD

They were using them in JAX, too. Fortunately, I wasn't "selected" for it. I would decline the scan - not because of privacy, but because I don't want an unnecessary dose of radiation (or whatever they use).

FlyingUnderTheRadar

You might as well just go and plan to be hand inspected. At the rate things are going every airport will have them. Though not every terminal - so just choose accordingly if you do not want the aggravation.

BearX220

Fortunately, local news-talk radio (KOMO) cited the "growing list of cons" associated with the Nude-o-Scopes as it covered the story today, and aired several critical soundbites. Also, commentary on the Seattle Times online forums was running heavily against the NoS. Maybe we're slowly edging away from blind, dumb acceptance of ridiculous security measures.

doober

If I knew how to start a revolution, I would. SOMEBODY has to surface who knows how to and is willing to lead the charge.

FriendlySkies

Unfortunately, it's looking more like that. So far, I've been able to avoid the NoS, and haven't had a patdown-ever! Obviously that's going to change, given the fact that my home airport, DEN, will be getting four more cancer boxes. Of course TSA will put them at the entrance to the elite line, so that won't help me that much..

+100000000

Wimpie

August 19, 2010

The Honorable John F. Clark
Director
U.S. Marshals Service
U.S. Department of Justice


As you probably are aware, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has employed protocols for the use of AIT that includes a prohibition on the storage or retention of images from whole body imaging scans in most circumstances.

We also encourage you to consider the use of automatic target recognition (ATR) software with all AITs. This auto-detection software addresses many of the privacy concerns raised by the AITs by eliminating the need for a federal security official to view the images generated by scans. ATR is already in use at Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam and is currently being reviewed by TSA for use in U.S. airports. Computer-based auto-detection technology, which identifies potentially threatening objects on a person using a featureless human body outline to highlight those areas of the individual that may require further inspection, would go a long way to
address the legitimate privacy concerns many Americans have regarding whole body imaging technology.

Joseph I. Lieberman, United States Senator
Susan M. Collins, United States Senator
Daniel H. Akaka, United States Senator
Thomas R. Carper, United States Senator
Saxby Chambliss, United States Senator
Johnny Isakson, United States Senator

http://politechbot.com/docs/lieberma...ing.081910.txt

These bozos don't know about the different technologies?
They seem to think saving images is OK in some cases?

FriendlySkies

They just don't get it, do they? What about the radiation? I guess if it doesn't show the person, then it's completely fine, even if it gives off radiation to the victim

Italy98

Let's hope that slowly goes from molasses in winter to the Victoria falls without an ice age in the process.

Didn't the Revolutionary War start with a small vocal minority?

N1120A

In other news:

"People who care about their health, privacy and the Constitution of the United States of America shall shortly begin opting out of dangerous, ineffective full body scans in Seattle."

Fredd

Selfishly I hope that most people aren't "opt-outs," making the line for the, ah, personal contact shorter for us; OTOH I hope everybody opts out.

Kiwi Flyer

Wouldn't it great if 100% opt out was to break out?

mozgytog

I encourage everyone I talk to to opt out.

Fredd

^

Yes, and as a geezer I'll get away with loud and cheerful comments while in line, e.g. warning the TSA employees to stay away from these dangerous newfangled contraptions too if they ever want to have children.