Thursday, December 2, 2010

Posting of full body scanning device pictures pokes holes in TSA policy

Certain individuals going through airport Security probably didn’t think their full body scanning device pictures would show up online, like they did Wednesday. More than 35,000 pictures were saved against the rules by a United States of America Marshall located in FL, which led to their release. As the full body scanning device conundrum has roiled, travelers have been told by the Transportation Security Administration that pictures taken by the machines are promptly disposed of.

The public gets to see the full body scanner images

The angry uproar over full body scanner images had been turned up a notch when Gizmodo posted 100 full body scans on its site. A Freedom of Information Act request made it so the U.S. Marshall in a Florida federal courthouse were able to collect the images. Gizmodo does point out the fact the "millimeter wave scanner" that took the images didn't show anything revealing. The point was more the pictures were saved which is more of a personal privacy issues that the Transportation Security Administration body scanners are threatening with.

Transportation Security Administration body scanner rules being broken

The full body scanner images taken by the “z-backscatter scanners” at airports more revealing than the low-res images. The TSA body scanner rules say the imaging technology “cannot store, print, transmit or conserve the image, and the image is automatically deleted from the system after it is cleared by the remotely located security officer.” If those operating the "porno scanners" as they’re called aren't abiding by TSA rules then the full body images can obviously circulate, as outlined by Gizmodo.

Private parts on individuals

Full body scanner imaging had been initiated by the TSA in 2007. Throughout the U.S., 68 airports have scanners. This is advanced z-backscatter imaging that travelers go through. Their naked bodies are shown as a result of an ionizing X-ray. The radiation exposure that comes from the machines is an additional major concern. This hasn't stopped the TSA. They have continued on. The internet is bound to get a hold of the z-backscatter images soon enough exposing private parts online.

Articles cited

Gizmodo

gizmodo.com/5690749/

PC World

pcworld.com/article/210878/xray_body_scanner_hubbub_the_naked_truth.html

Fox News

foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/16/leaked-images-body-scanners-hit-web/print



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