Now that's what transparency is all about.
By far the most popular request from responders to TSA's blog, Evolution of Security, has been for examples of the millimeter wave full body images, the somewhat controversial security imaging technology (L-3) now in use in Phoenix, Baltimore, LAX and JFK.
The TSA came through for its readers with both front and back, male and female images, just like they asked for. The facial features are blurred just like they are blurred when the security officers see the images.
TSA explains the proceedure, "TSA will not keep, store or transmit images. Once deleted, they are gone forever. For additional privacy, the officer viewing the image is in a separate room and will never see the passenger and the officer attending to the passenger will never see the image. The officers have 2-way radios to communicate with other in case a threat object is identified."
A passsenger should only be in machine (encased in clear Plexiglas) for two to three seconds. "The remaining time, between 15-45 seconds, is used by the officer at the remote viewing location to evaluate the image. During that time, the passenger can move around at will next to the machine while the officer attending the machine waits to hear via wireless comms that the image is free of any potential threats. This is an important point as ALL items must be removed from passenger's pockets prior to entering the millimeter wave machine because they will show up and must be removed to ensure they are not threat items."
The public score cards are still being gathered, but early reports suggest that more than 85 percent of passengers perfer the imaging to a way-too-personal pat-down requiring phisical contact.
After seeing the actual image, I would think that viewing this non -descript body imaging all day would be incredibibly boring but very effective.
Click here to see further technical information on the millimeter wave system and two videos on how it works.
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