From: hosted.ap.org
TSA TO REMOVE CONTROVERSIAL X-RAY SCANNERS
Those airport scanners with their all-too revealing body images will soon be going away.
The Transportation Security Administration says the scanners that used a low-dose X-ray will be gone by June because the company that makes them can’t fix the privacy issues. The other airport body scanners, which produce a generic outline instead of a naked image, are staying.
The government rapidly stepped up its use of body scanners after a man snuck explosives onto a flight bound for Detroit on Christmas day in 2009.
At first, both types of scanners showed travelers naked. The idea was that security workers could spot both metallic objects like guns as well as non-metallic items such as plastic explosives. The scanners also showed every other detail of the passenger’s body, too.
The TSA defended the scanners, saying the images couldn’t be stored and were seen only by a security worker who didn’t interact with the passenger. But the scans still raised privacy concerns. Congress ordered that the scanners either produce a more generic image or be removed by June.
RuthieTruthie
I’m very suspicious about the removal of these machines. It seems too easy. I always “opted out” because of the cancer and health threats. A lot of money through lobbing, friends, etc. has been spent to get these machines in airports and road stops. They even had hoped to get them shopping malls, train stations & bus stations. I haven’t read anything about the safety of the machines they will be using now. I’ll do the research but in the meantime, DOES ANYONE have information as to KNOW WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON??