TSA Rolls out Airport X-Ray Screening

The Phoenix airport is the first to test the TSA's new x-ray screening technology.  This system was in the news several months ago, accompanied by the x-ray photo of the TSA's security lab head, Susan Hallowell (first image above).  Many people have been rightfully concerned about privacy with these devices.  The TSA says it has now addressed the concerns:

The Transportation and Security Administration said it has found a way to refine the machine's images so that the normally graphic pictures can be blurred in certain areas while still being effective in detecting bombs and other threats.

[...] the X-rays will be set up so that the image can be viewed only by a security officer in a remote location. Other passengers, and even the agent at the checkpoint, will not have access to the picture.

In addition, the system will be configured so that the X-ray will be deleted as soon as the individual steps away from the machine. It will not be stored or available for printing or transmitting, agency spokesman Nico Melendez said.

Link: Phoenix airport to test X-ray screening (Yahoo/AP)

I think there's still much to be concerned about, but it's unfortunate that the AP used that old photo to go with the new story, which has spawned much new discussion and speculation (e.g., Pandagon: Bare naked travel).  The TSA has posted an article with new images and movies at their website: X-Ray Backscatter Technology and Your Personal Privacy, and to their credit, the new images do look less disturbing (see second image).

(To add to the confusion, the TSA's page messed up one of their other photos -- they show a security agent viewing the screen in public, which is not supposed to happen now.)

The new system is arguably still pretty invasive, and there's no mention of radiation levels and whether those pose a danger or have even been studied.  Furthermore, the TSA is asking for a lot of faith in their ability to keep the data secure.  It won't be surprising when the first celebrity x-rays show up on the web.  As Paul Saffo writes, "Let us hope the first release is a politician or a Supreme Court Justice and the ensuing uproar forces a rethink of the whole idea."

Comments

[Chris]

have the x-ray appear on a pencil sketch of a man, woman, or child, and have only the item in question appear on that sketch. No extreme outlines of the person are neccesary.

[Beau]

How can they roll these machines out without determining the health effects of repeat exposures to low level radiation? What if the machine malfunctions and emits more radiation than intended? Such malfunctions have occurred with other types of radiation equipment. Here's a solution: Just have everybody walk naked through security - if somebody looks suspicious they can be diverted to the body cavity search room. Ouch.