THE NAKED EYE

Naked Image Scanners Will Be Removed from U.S. Airports

The controversial machines had sparked privacy concerns

Jan 19, 2013 by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Image: AP

Looks like airline passengers won't have to reveal quite so much when they go through security. The full body airport scanners that produced an almost naked image of passengers will be removed from all U.S. airports by June.

The Transportation Security Administration has made the decision because the company that produces the machines could not modify the technology to show less intrusive images in time to meet a Congressional deadline. Metal detectors and a different type of full body scanners that show a more generic, cartoon-like body outline will be used instead to check passengers for weapons and other security risks, CNN reports.

After a man snuck explosives in his underwear onto a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas in 2009, airports turned more to the naked body image scans, which sparked an outcry about privacy violations. Passengers were given a choice to instead have a pat-down by security, but many felt that was just as invasive, if not more so.

To accomodate privacy concerns, the security agents had to view the body images in a private room and then relay information to the officers at the checkpoints. This added extra time that passengers had to spend in security lines.

Via CNN

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Comments (view in Forum)

Jan '13

Jack-Black

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They need to be more like Israel and other non PC countries. PROFILE passangers.....
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Jan '13

OhWiseOne

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Amen! PC be damned.
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Jan '13

justapirate

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Now, don't you go making sense. It confuses people.
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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Correct. PROFILE PROFILE PROFILE. America has a history of profiling people and we need to but those lessons to good use at the airport.
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Jan '13

XLP

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@justapirate ...and scares the progressives that won't keep score in soccer.
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Jan '13

GmanGSW

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Exactly. One of the few instances whereby I definitely feel that profiling is in order, hands down!
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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This really hampers my desire to seek out employment with the TSA, being as it was my number one reason for doing so in the first place. I think that I will remove my application from its database this afternoon.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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Bad Fish! Bad! ;)
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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@Denizen_Kate Shouldn't we somewhat enjoy what we do for a job? Otherwise its just called "Work" and not "My place of employment". The two have entirely different connotations that come to mind when you say them.
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Post @Fishbone345
Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@Fishbone345 - Sure, but can't you just buy yourself a copy of Playboy, like the boys in the USAF do?
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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@Denizen_Kate I'm surprised in the age of computers, internet and access to pretty much anything, that porn in hard print even continues to be relevant.
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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I've never had a weapon or some other contraband confiscated from me by the TSA but they have confiscated my dignity on several occasions.
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Jan '13

DARSB

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This should cut way down on the stress-related illnesses suffered by TSA screeners. Seriously, have you looked at the typical passenger in the security line with you? You wanna look at all that but naked eight hours a day?:)
- B2 • Vote Up r9 Replies
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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If you work at an orchard and pick up apples off the ground you are likely to get a lot of rotten apples, but every now and then you will find a completely undisturbed gem of an apple lying there. And that apple makes it worth the while. ;)
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Jan '13

DARSB

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@Fishbone345 To carry on with your fruited metaphor, a pity most of our fellow travelers (pinko phrase alert!) are decidedly more pear-shaped than apploid.
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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@DARSB Touche.
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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Sometimes the fruit looks so perfect, appetizing, and yummy, the screener runs it through the picking process...over and over again.
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Jan '13

DARSB

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@RobertJHarsh And then sells the prints to guys in the Air Force!
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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Airport security screenings are a lot like gun control laws: they give folks a false sense of security but they really don't do much to protect us from a really determined nutbag.
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Jan '13

Fishbone345

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Agreed. Despite my sarcasm above, I wholeheartedly think that the TSA doesn't do much at all besides make innocent people suffer the consequences we'd like to apply to the "bad guys".
This is where the Right ought to shine, and generally doesn't. It's funny, the people screaming loudest about taking away guns from innocent people and bad people still getting them, also support the TSA and Homeland Security, and things like the Patriot Act. Its just completely a mystery to me how they don't get the irony of supporting one of those points and completely going the opposite on the other.
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@Fishbone345 - I don't get it, either. It all seems so obvious to me. Either you value your personal privacy and liberty or you don't. How they manage to fit both attitudes into one brain is a mystery to me as well. Bi-polar, you think?
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Jan '13

MongoAPillager

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well this is one neo-con that has no use for the TSA,Patriot Act(Oxymoron)NDAA!!!
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@MongoAPillager - Remarks here were never aimed at you, Mongo ... even if you are a whack job! ;-)
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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@Denizen_Kate yes they were.
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Jan '13

Neo_NtheMatrix

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Can you say profile?
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Jan '13

Malitia_Man

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I not only wanted them removed solely for privacy, but for health concerns also!!! Now, if we could get those pedophile TSA agents to quit groping mine and my kids genitals!!!

#PreppingTheSheep
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Jan '13

OhWiseOne

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Have you seen the average TSA agent? Do they pick them straight out of prison?
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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well, that shouldn't take them long, huh?
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Jan '13

CommonSense

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Could they please just keep that there as an option?
I much rather be seen naked than groped.
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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if you want to stop the groping, all you've got to do is grope them back.
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Jan '13

Chromalord

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We are WAY behind in screening tech, that other countries employ, and without the long waits or making everyone jump thru hoops. Why? Rich people own their own planes. Congressional members get flown everywhere and with preferential treatment, so they don't see the plight of the average traveler as its not on their radar or any type of priority.
Also, to retrofit all of the airports with a new system would costs billions. Until we upgrade the TSA's attempt at REAL security, the skies will not be safe.
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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it'd be a whole lot better to simply do away with the tsa. then thing's'll be secure.
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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HMMMM.......could these scanners be used to help protect our schools (JOKE....OK)
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Jan '13

harold_lloyd

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Don't matter to me, I take the train.
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Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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It's all my fault. When I flew in 2010, the TSA guy laughed himself into a heart attack. After the lawsuit when it was found I couldn't be banned from flying and the scanners were ordered to be removed to prevent further legal action..
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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Thank you for "exposing" the truth! I'd give you a thumbs up but figure you might want to save that for your next flight.....lol.
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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Sold to us for millions by former Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff. Nothing to see here my fellow Americans move along.
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Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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I wonder, did these scanners catch ANYBODY who was trying to sneak weapons or explosives onto a plane? Would they stop anybody from detonating an explosive device that they had swallowed in the manner that drug mules smuggle heroin and cocaine?
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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I have not seen one report that these scanners caught anything. Just another high priced mess up.
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Jan '13

artjeb

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Now that the scanners are gone lucky studs wont show what extra parts they have lol
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Jan '13

mudzangandoro

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Privacy vs. Security...What's your fancy???
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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Couple of things come to mind here. 1.) How many billion is down the tubes on these scanners that they are now scrapping because they didn't work properly? 2.) Why does our govt continually spend money on things the seller can't prove works before the govt buys them? 3,) Every single airport I have been in worldwide the past 30 years profiles people. Except the USA. Why would that be? Why would you pat down a 16 year old blonde girl "randomly" while the guy behind her is middle eastern, sweating, stuttering and looking at the floor but he goes right through? 4.) Who the hell hired these TSA? It is mandatory for a TSA agent to be obese? And smell?
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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well, the machines do work. that's not the problem. they actually work too well for most people's comfort.

and if you have to ask why someone'd rather pat down a pretty 16 year old girl rather than a sweaty, dirty old man, then you really shouldn't be allowed to fly, anyway.
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Post @dances-weebles
Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@dances-weebles Of course. there are priorities. Obviously not the correct ones, but priorities.
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Jan '13

mimi57

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@dances-weebles Shame on you Weeble...16, isn't that a little young for you?...
You're married , no? Better 'pat down' your wife!( smiling )
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Jan '13

dances-weebles

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@mimi57 no, dear... 16 is above the age of consent... and can't a married person pat anyone down?

party pooper!
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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@dances-weebles Not in California it's not. 18 is legal. And in many states it's 17 or 18. You've just identified yourself as a pervert in about a third of America. Probably not wise.
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Jan '13

Clarke12

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I have been working out since winter started so when I go to the airport for my Bermuda trip I can see what I look like in one of those scanners. Too bad.
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Jan '13

texas_cutie75

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Aw shucks!!
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Jan '13

NormalFlora

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Why wasn't there a poll response for "What privacy concerns? Get over it, people, or don't fly!!!"
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Jan '13

wild_turkey6

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I wonder if the taxpayers will get a refund on the $180,000 price per item for the ones that have already been bought?
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Does removing those scanners satisfy your privacy concerns about the airport security screening process?

Does removing those scanners satisfy your privacy concerns about the airport security screening process?