TSA unveils 'generic' body scans

[DainBramaged]

The Transportation Security Administration began testing on Tuesday new software that will transmit more modest images of travelers' bodies on some of its controversial airport screening machines.

The new technology, introduced at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport for a 45- to 60-day trial, is designed to detect potential explosives and show them on a blurred "generic outline" of a person projected a monitor that can be seen by screeners and travelers. The outline will be identical for all passengers.

The TSA will introduce the software at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Ronald Reagan Washington National in the next few days.

"Testing this new software will help us confirm test results that indicate it can provide the same high level of security as current advanced imaging technology units while further enhancing the privacy protections already in place," TSA Administrator John Pistole said.

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011/02/TSA-unveils-generic-body-scans/43172232/1?loc=interstitialskip

(not the actual image, but a humorous representation of what it should be).

[enlightenment]

1. And pigs fly past my house on a regular basis.

"Testing this new software will help us confirm test results that indicate it can provide the same high level of security as current advanced imaging technology units while further enhancing the privacy protections already in place," TSA Administrator John Pistole said.

The same high level of security? Was the pornoscan making us more secure? How many bad guys did they catch with it? Read a couple of things about detecting drugs - did they catch anyone wearing an explosive device? A weapon? Anything bigger than a nail clipper? They seem to have had no trouble detecting sanitary napkins - I suppose those could be considered dangerous.

Of course this imagery will not be satisfactory in many cases, leading to more intrusive 'enhanced pat-downs'.

To think that flying used to be a pleasure . . .

[snot]

2. They have fixed what was not, for me, the problem.

They have not fixed the 4th Amdt violation or the radiation exposure.