TSA Body Scanners See It All

Published on July 22nd, 2008

“Y M C A, We’re staying at the [Gitmo] Y M C A…”

The TSA has thoughtfully provided information, including movies, on their millimeter wave and backscatter body scanners that have gotten so many in a twitter because it can show what generally significant others only get to see, unless, of course, you’re a nudist or Britney. And don’t think wearing a cast on your arm will stop them: CastScope!

How the [millimeter wave] Technology Works
* Beams of radio frequency (RF) energy in the millimeter wave spectrum are projected over the body’s surface at high speed from two antennas simultaneously as they rotate around the body
* The RF energy reflected back from the body or other objects on the body is used to construct a three-dimensional image
* The three-dimensional image of the body, with facial features blurred for privacy, is displayed on a remote monitor for analysis

What to Expect
* Each passenger will walk into the millimeter wave portal. Once inside, they will be asked to stand in two different positions and remain still for just a few moments while the technology creates a three-dimensional image of the passenger in real time
* Once complete, the passenger will exit the opposite side of the millimeter wave portal
* Images will be deleted immediately once viewed and will never be stored, transmitted or printed (the passenger imaging units have zero storage capability)

What TSA Sees
Four millimeter wave images: female, front view, female, rear view, male, front view, and male, rear view.

Safety
* For comparison, the energy projected by the system is 10,000 times less than a cell phone transmission
* We, and all objects around us, generate millimeter wave energy – and we are exposed to it every single day of our lives

Ah, how comforting. I feel so safe now that America is leading the way with high technology to ensure I don’t do naughty things!

23 users responded in " TSA Body Scanners See It All "

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# 1 Alan said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:29 am

I’m going to design and sell a shirt that has a big FU on it that’s invisible to light but opaque on backscatter frequencies.

Along with a line of undergarments that are also opaque at those frequencies.

I bet I could sell a bunch of them.

# 2 Michael said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 am

I think this is a fantastic alternative to crappy metal detectors. There is almost no way to conceal weapons with this device. Just remember that the person viewing the scan images is in a separate room, never sees you, and has no way of saving the image.

If you’re offended by a digital scan representation of your naughty bits, get a grip.

# 3 JimD said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:42 am

What comes next ? PROCTOSCOPES, OF COURSE !!! Time to do away with DHS/TSA !!! Have they captured any “Terrorists” after spending BILLIONS AND BILLIONS ??? How about a Cost/Benefit Analysis ???

# 4 Michael said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 am

JimD – how about turning off that caps lock key and deleting all those extraneous punctuation marks. You do realize that no one can take your comments seriously when it looks like they were written by an emotional 13 year old.

# 5 pedro said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 am

TSA leading the way to use this? have you traveled to Europe?

And the US is not alone. They bought those milimeter wave scanner in Kuzcoland too. Yet to be installed.

# 6 Dr Dodd said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 6:37 am

This is a great idea for Capital Hill. Having politicians and media types subjected to this before entering would bring a little reality to those that see no harm in how invasive this technology is.

Of course I’m sure this will soon find its way into the Kennedy Compound. Since Teddy-boy’s groping of the guests has been some-what curtailed this should provide him with hours of enjoyment.

Don’t go near the water.

# 7 MikeN said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 am

The last time you posted this on this blog, you guys were generally supportive. What’s changed?

# 8 Uncle Dave said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 6:52 am

#7: I’ve been doing too damn much traveling through airports.

# 9 Thomas said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 am

#2
I think you meant to say is that what we are told is that the TSA person has no way of saving the images. Clearly the device does have a means of saving images since that is how we are able to see the images it produces. Thus, we are led to believe that TSA employees will not have the ability to “accidentally” enable this function.

# 10 Thomas said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 7:07 am

#8
I’ve been doing quite a bit of travel myself lately. Mostly to Europe on business. I find the techniques used in most airports to be equally intrusive. It almost feels like a conspiracy against people that refuse to check bags.

# 11 eyeofthetiger said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 am

If a person has an erection could that be grounds for a sexual misconduct charge?

# 12 gquaglia said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 am

Total Recall?

# 13 Peter iNova said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 am

“Yes, your honor, we detected the terrorist spoon in his pocket with the ProVision machine.”
“Can you show me how that happened?”
“Here, your honor, are the pictures. Notice the unmistakably recognizable facial features, the small genitalia, the appendix scar, the scar from pacemaker surgery and the terrorist spoon—plastic, so as to escape detection—in his pocket.”
“It’s good you have these images, counselor, otherwise I would have been inclined to let Mr. Cheney go free.”

# 14 bh28630 said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 8:13 am

All this hi tech equipment in the hands of people who could not get hired at McDonalds is amusing but then the TSA is little more than a window dressing to make the public believe they are safer. A terrorist need not bring anything into the country via an aircraft since they can purchase enough deadly chemicals to wipe out any major city after a brief visit WalMart and a stop at the local reservoir. And the ports are an even bigger joke because cargo is very poorly screened.

# 15 GF said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Yeah, those employees don’t have a cell phone camera pointed at the monitor. Hell, with qix they could stream it live to the web. I can see it now. TSA employee makes $150,000 for pics of Kelly Clarkson.

# 16 Dreamwolf said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm

It’s like George Carlin was saying in one of his performances, quote: “I’m tired of some guy with a double-digit IQ and a triple-digit income rooting around inside of my bag for no reason and never finding anything. Haven’t found anything yet. Haven’t found one bomb in one bag.” I may not agree with him and where he stood on alot of issues, but I can agree when he says that airport security is just a croc of crap made up to make white people feel safer. Although, I would say it’s more for the richer folks since us middle class white people seem to only find it a nuisance.

# 17 Miss_X2b said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm

This is a total wet dream for any pervert. I wonder how many sex offenders will be rushing off to local airports seeking employment. I also wonder if children will also be subject to this scan.

# 18 Mister Mustard said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm

>>since us middle class white people seem to only
>>find it a nuisance.

George Carlin? “middle class”? Now that’s funny. I wish I made that kind of “middle class” money!

# 19 chuck said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm

Where can I buy an RFID-shielded thong?

# 20 caranpaima said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm

I wonder how many of this devices you could have bought with the billions (or was it trillions) wasted in pointless wars abroad. Betcha you could have any airport in America fully equipped with these.

# 21 mmayday said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm

#17

Uh, no.

But hey, at least you won’t be blown up by nonexistent bombs. That’s cool. Right?

# 22 Freyar said, on July 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 pm

That’s the straw. No more air travel for me. Thank god I got my last trip done before these were announced.

The TSA isn’t doing this to make their job ‘more effective’, they are doing this because they want shiney technologically advanced toys.

That and whoever is making these decisions is a pervert. Wonder if they will require waivers to be signed when people pass through them. I smell lawsuits.

# 23 Martina said, on August 4th, 2008 at 12:04 am

This scanner body is very beautifull.

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