TSA Blog says AIT Can't Store/Transmit Re: Drudge Report
Nov 17, 2010, 10:07 am
#1
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TSA Blog says AIT Can't Store/Transmit Re: Drudge Report
The Drudge report recently linked to this article with the very misleading headline: “TSAXXX: Naked Body Scans Leak Online” This is about the US Marshal Service (NOT Federal Air Marshal Service) storing Advanced Imaging Technology images at a Florida courthouse checkpoint (Not a TSA checkpoint). This has led many to ask if TSA is doing the same. As we’ve stated from the beginning, TSA has not, will not and the machines cannot store images of passengers at airports. The equipment sent by the manufacturer to airports cannot store, transmit or print images and operators at airports do not have the capability to activate any such function. You can read our blog post on this subject from earlier this summer. Or you can read the US Marshals Service Press Release on this matter.
http://blog.tsa.gov/
Nov 17, 2010, 10:12 am
#2
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Hm. So why does the Gen 2 Product Spec Sheet from Brijot.com show their machines come standard with USB and Ethernet slots?
Yes, I realize that posting this information will likely just cause Brijot to remove it. I have screenshotted it for posterity, with Nov. 5 or so as the date, to prove that the TSA is intentionally omitting this information as of this week.
However, whatever happens, I think the TSA has the responsibility to prove that the machines don't have those capabilities - i.e. submit to review from independent third parties - rather than relying on "trust us" style promises when a.) it's been proven the Feds will save images, b.) somewhere around here is a thread showing TSA paperwork requiring the machines to save images in test mode, c.) the subject at hand is this important - and TSA has every motivation in the world to want to save images of people, combined with the identification we're required to show, for any number of purposes.
Yes, I realize that posting this information will likely just cause Brijot to remove it. I have screenshotted it for posterity, with Nov. 5 or so as the date, to prove that the TSA is intentionally omitting this information as of this week.
However, whatever happens, I think the TSA has the responsibility to prove that the machines don't have those capabilities - i.e. submit to review from independent third parties - rather than relying on "trust us" style promises when a.) it's been proven the Feds will save images, b.) somewhere around here is a thread showing TSA paperwork requiring the machines to save images in test mode, c.) the subject at hand is this important - and TSA has every motivation in the world to want to save images of people, combined with the identification we're required to show, for any number of purposes.
Nov 17, 2010, 10:15 am
#3
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Nov 17, 2010, 10:21 am
#4
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For TSA to claim the WBI cannot store images is just not true. The contract specs require that capability, along with USB data transfer, high capacity drives (images are large) and network capabilities.
Now TSA claims the image storage feature is turned off before the machines are installed in airports but why would anyone trust TSA after the pack of lies that has flowed out of that agency?
Do you trust TSA?
Now TSA claims the image storage feature is turned off before the machines are installed in airports but why would anyone trust TSA after the pack of lies that has flowed out of that agency?
Do you trust TSA?
Nov 17, 2010, 10:23 am
#5
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I'll say it again - the RFP (the one EPIC and others have posted before) required the ability to store images (yes, it did say training mode, from what I recall) and further stated the specific levels of personnel that were enabled to place the system in said mode and permit captures. Several of the personnel listed are assigned at the airport level from what other sources have posted.
If the two Qualified Vendors have installed machines at the airport checkpoints without that capability (the ability to go into training mode and capture/store images), then they are in violation of the Federal Acquisition Regulations for failure to comply with deliverable specifications (at least according to my annual FAR courses here at work) and should be reported to the GAO for investigation.
If the two Qualified Vendors have installed machines at the airport checkpoints without that capability (the ability to go into training mode and capture/store images), then they are in violation of the Federal Acquisition Regulations for failure to comply with deliverable specifications (at least according to my annual FAR courses here at work) and should be reported to the GAO for investigation.
Nov 17, 2010, 10:23 am
#6
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For TSA to claim the WBI cannot store images is just not true. The contract specs require that capability, along with USB data transfer, high capacity drives (images are large) and network capabilities.
Now TSA claims the image storage feature is turned off before the machines are installed in airports but why would anyone trust TSA after the pack of lies that has flowed out of that agency?
Do you trust TSA?
Now TSA claims the image storage feature is turned off before the machines are installed in airports but why would anyone trust TSA after the pack of lies that has flowed out of that agency?
Do you trust TSA?
Nov 17, 2010, 10:47 am
#10
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
BB and TSA are definitely feeling the heat. Time to work overtime to get plenty of puff pieces out there..
http://blog.tsa.gov/
http://blog.tsa.gov/
For those of our members who are in DC, are there tanks surrounding DHS HQ yet to protect it from mobs of very angry citizens?