Friday, December 1, 2006

X-ray vision

Phoenix airport will begin using an x-ray machine ('back scatter') to check passengers for explosives.
Phoenix Airport to Test X-Ray Screening
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Dec 1, 7:02 AM (ET)

PHOENIX (AP) - Sky Harbor International Airport here will test a new federal screening system that takes X-rays of passenger's bodies to detect concealed explosives and other weapons.

The technology, called backscatter, has been around for several years but has not been widely used in the U.S. as an anti-terrorism tool because of privacy concerns.

The Transportation 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. (link)
The concerns most people seem to harbor are the fact that their body (shape) is visible through this technology. I personally don't see this as a concern, but was wondering about others? Is it 'invasive' to be able to use x-ray technology like this to see under people's clothes? Is it over-the-top to use this to check for explosives that metal-detectors would miss? Is it a 'right' infringement?

To me, it's a standard security issue and doesn't (seem to) infringe on any civil rights or liberties, but that could be just me. Any thoughts?

The Captain has much better on the subject than me (I should have read his first heh) go over there and read this.
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Reason amongst the dhimmikrauts

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