Earlier this year, the TSA began its rollout of 450 advanced imaging technology whole body scanners at airports. These scanners aim to provide more security for passengers and crew as they can identify items that the current metal detectors cannot. I wrote about whole body scanners after Chris Elliott and Steve Frischling were issued subpoenas by the Feds for a related issue.
The bottom line is that scanners provide a detailed, three-dimensional image of a person’s body, basically a virtual strip search. The images from body scanners are supposed to be discarded immediately, but it was discovered in August that a courthouse in Orlando had been saving them. Personally, I’m not interested in subjecting myself to this virtual strip search and when I am confronted with one of these, I will decline to go through it.
But, there seems to be some troubling news about what happens to those who do turn down the scanner option (and it IS an option). This new issue was addressed recently by Charlie Leocha at the Consumer Traveler. It seems that passengers at some airports who opt for a pat-down as opposed to a body scan, are being subjected to open-handed palm-forward invasive searches by TSA. In effect, passengers are being punished for choosing not to walk through the scanner, and are given such an embarrassing security search that they’ll think twice before opting out of the body scanner in the future.
My reasons for opting out of the body scanner are two-fold. For one, no matter how low-level the government claims the radiation to be on these scanners, I’m not interested in subjecting my body to any more than is absolutely necessary. (It’s why I also question my dentist any time I’m told I need an x-ray.) The government states that these advanced imaging scanners are “safe” and that they send out such low levels of radiation that a person would have to be exposed thousands of times a year to have any ill-effect. However, there is research that about one in 20 people are particularly sensitive to radiation, as are children who can develop cancers later in life from early radiation exposure.
Second of all, I’m frankly quite uncomfortable with a stranger scanning the details of my body. While I’m fairly certain that a TSA employee will have little time to give thought to my particular outline, the thought of it creeps me out a bit.
Women travelers should give particular consideration to whether you want to be subjected to these scanners. For pregnant women, specifically, the effects on an unborn child are unknown. If a TSA employee tries to assure you it’s safe, remember that their job is to make the line move faster, not protect your child. There’s also an interesting twist on the female factor from the Islamic community. It is a violation of their religion for another person to see their private parts. (This reminds me of when I was getting a foot massage in Bangkok and noticed a Muslim woman had been shielded by a curtain from the rest of the customers.) Imagine the embarrassment for this very modest community!
With this alarming news that the TSA is making the pat down process more unpleasant for passengers who decline the body scan, I’d love to know what you plan to do when you’re faced with such a decision.
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Knock Knock. Who’s there. The Feds.
Security Alert – Peanut Butter is Spreadable
Airport Safety = Security Theater?
Where Have all the Clunkers Gone?
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Baking Barrister says
I travel a lot so I’ve thought about this. I don’t like being touched by strangers. At all. The thought of being patted down gives me the creeps. I’d rather have a non-sexual, unidentifiable x-ray taken of my body than have some power-hungry goon touch me. I also think that any interest factor in seeing these images probably dissipates after the first 500.
Wimpie says
“Advanced Imaging Technology” is a euphemism created to make people think they are getting “scanned.” No one is getting “scanned” — they are getting strip searched.
The fundamental privacy issue is whether our government has the right to make strip searches routine and mandatory.
There is no question that these machines violate the 4th Amendment.
There are also health issues. Researchers are already coming out saying that the machines aren’t safe and could cause cancer.
Please check out the brochure at:
http://www.nudeoscope.com
http://ThousandsStandingAround.com
http://dontscan.us
http://dontscan.me
and join us on Facebook
All Facebook Against Airport Full Body Scanners
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=239458517874
and join in on Flyertalk.com
Organized resistance to WBI/invasive patdowns
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1119548-organized-resistance-wbi-invasive-patdowns.html
HELP PUT A STOP TO THE TYRANNY!
Darcey says
I’ll walk through it. After all – they’ve seen naked women’s bodies before, either in “adult magazines” or in the mirror. They just haven’t seen mine. It’s no big deal to me – I don’t have the sense of body shame, because of the way I was raised (and no – not by nudists!), that a lot of people seem to.
For people with religious grounds (like Muslim women) and similar who have such objections, I think there should be an alternate, and THAT needs to be implemented in a more respectful manner. However, the body scanners just don’t matter to me.
Kymri says
My husband, 8-year-old daughter and I all opted out at O’Hare as we were transferring from an International to a domestic flight. The humiliating and traumatizing (not just for my daughter!) ordeal which followed is something I am still processing and intend to blog about, must blog about!! I felt horrible watching a stranger pat down my daughter as her eyes questioned me from the seperated distance they kept us at. Thanks for this article – atleast I know it wasn’t just us.
Corinne @ Gourmantic says
I’d opt for the ‘scanner’ unless I had a medical condition. However, if I were a frequent traveller, I’d be concerned about radiation. Tough choice, either way.
Merivel says
It’s not about whether TSA agents may or may not be interested in your body, it’s about whether they have the right to look at your naked body at all (or comprehensively feel it up). Unless I have done something to cause suspicion, who sees or feels my body is MY decision. The mandatory virtual strip search/public groping is very clearly a violation of our 4th Amendment Rights. I love to travel and have disposable income to to so, but while these policies remain in effect I will refrain from air travel.
Donna says
The whole thing is utterly despicable and an outrage. We should be screaming bloody murder about this, not accepting passively each new assault on our privacy.
Faced with the decision of being groped vs scanned, I’d offer to simply strip down in line–forget the physical contact, and forget the radiation and pics that who-knows-who is looking at, I’d rather the entire traveling population get a glance at me for a second.
Verde says
It is now being revealed that the TSA can tell if you are on your period as they can see sanitary napkins. So will I then have to prove that I am not an underwear bomber just a natural menstruating woman? Will I have the burden of proof? This is just too invasive.
Beth says
I’m horrified. I don’t know why this is so disturbing, but it is.
Erin says
It’s extremely disturbing, as it’s an invasion of privacy on so many levels, which puts us more at risk for other issues. And it’s unnecessary. I recently read that Israel’s airline has a perfect record and they don’t use any of these machines. Also, in The Gift of Fear, the author whose job it is to assess risk on every level, states that these measures don’t actually work.
There needs to be something done to ensure safety- but this is not the answer.
Holly says
Virtually strip-searching or touching someone intimately without due cause is fundamentally wrong. Security is important, but a line must be drawn. Should have been drawn. If we accept this what’s the next step? Body cavity searches? I shouldn’t have to worry about someone seeing me naked or groping me just because I want to get on a plane.
Elizabeth says
I don’t ravel really, and I’ve only been on an airplane three times…all post 9/11. I am sick of us “protecting” the rights of a few groups and violating the rights of ALL groups. We refuse to profile because it is against the civil rights of those groups, yet we will subject all Americans to scans and groping in public? I won’t be traveling via airplane EVER. I won’t allow someone to “legally” feel me or my children up or see us naked. I can’t imagine watching someone put their hands on my children….I would go crazy on them. I am a teacher and not allowed to hug my students for fear that someone will accuse me of something, yet airplane employees are allowed to put there hands where? Hmmmmm….interesting how our country works.
Beth says
Great point, Elizabeth, about how you aren’t aloud to hug a student but we’re allowed to be groped by government employees.