GUWonder

While that's a question whose true answer I would like to know too, I doubt that DHS/TSA is sufficiently capable and/or willing to account for all the wasted money in this regard too. There's no reason to doubt that DHS/TSA has -- in its typical unnecessary way -- wasted money on this effort too and will continue to waste money on software related to the various strip search machines in use.

With regard to the AMS implementation, do some screeners still use the communication earpieces when there's supposedly something they think they "need" to resolve on a machine strip searched passenger?

FliesWay2Much

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.5.0.138 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Puppy post is out at 1639. Fire when ready, but don't forget ti keep attacking the two personal attacks on Phil right below it.

Mimi111

Seriously? If the image is blurred how is it useful? I know, it's a badly written sentence on his part and I assume he means certain parts of the image are blurred but it's misleading at best. We have all heard the stories of "blurry crotchal areas" lol

goalie

Memo to the TSA: Please define contraband.....

Mimi111

^ Nice catch!

Interesting how that's changed from "prohibited items" or "dangerous items", isn't it?

He neglected to note that contraband=any anomaly including forgetting a tissue in your pocket.

Ellie M

That blog post just proves Bob's knee jerk, gotcha mentality. Instead of starting with the "good news" and saying something to the effect of this shows that TSA is listening to passengers' concerns, he starts with a complete non sequitur:

Yeah, because "Advanced Imaging Technology" describes those machines ever so much more accurately than "Body Scanner." And TSA has never tried rebranding those machines.

Lara21

That contraband would be drugs, finger nail clippers, chapstick, money or any other harmless item someone leaves on their person before going through the scanner... And I don't need to be a TSA Agent to know that.

N830MH

Yep, he stuck at home due to snowstorms in Eastern time. I am afraid the flight is canceled today. He won't be there at works today and tomorrow due to Blizzard snowstorms in northeastern states. He should be back to works in the few days until the weather will be cleared.

eskachig

I actually think this is a huge step forward, and don't understand why TSA didn't wait a few months for their rollout - and I wonder what would've happened without all the public pressure and negative press.

This system removes most of my concerns with body scanners, though I still plan to keep out of the X-ray ones.

deldel

Even with ATR i will opt-out if i decide to fly again. Until there are laws (that i can read and know about) regulating the use and disposal of the images it's a no go for me.

PhoenixRev

I will bet $4700 that I know of at least one.

Mimi111

^^

Wimpie

I figure that for the reasonable future, there will still be a goon in the booth confirming the findings of the software. They, of course, will not mention this.

There is no other reasonable method to confirm the number of false positives and false negatives inevitably made by the software. We know Pissy doesn't trust the software, and nobody trusts Pissy.

Remember that pleats in clothing, seam lines, etc, make it difficult for the MMW to work through, even with goons analyzing the images. Also, because MMW cannot see through metallic fabric, there will be an industry for metalized underwear, under which anything can be concealed. No anomaly would be reported by the software because the image is smooth and consistent in the fabric area. Software can only "see" edges and differences in reflected energy. Any anomaly would only be seen at the belt line and the leg line, and these would probably be discarded. I intend to make up some metalized underwear to test the theory. Nothing illegal here, just testing. I will report my findings.

Clearly, ATD is less effective at finding anomalies so I would guess the goon in the back room will stay for a long while.

Meanwhile, stay the heck out of the Rapiscam machines. X-Rays, crystal-clear images, commissions for Chertoff.

Go Jesse!

eturowski

(bolding mine)

This is not the same as, "We will no longer staff an officer in a separate room."

As evidenced even as recently as BB's post about Phil below this one, the TSA is well-versed in lies of omission for the purpose of misleading sheeple.

nachtnebel

That particular stat is as worthless as they come. There was a tidal wave of objection. Or have we forgotten the news coverage already. None of those who quit flying filed complaints because they refused to be put in a position where they would suffer the groping in the first place. Who knows how many were too intimidated to file complaints, or who couldn't find out how to do it, etc. How many others were simply discouraged: after all, your sex organs just got attacked by the TSA and you are going to complain to those same people? That would strike many as a rather useless activity.

The ACLU got a lot more complaints, over a thousand in just a few weeks, because of the perception they could/would do something about it.