Spotlight on Surveillance

June 2005:
Transportation Agency's Plan to X-Ray Travelers Should Be Stripped of Funding

President Bush's proposed $2.57 trillion federal budget for Fiscal Year 2006 greatly increases the amount of money spent on surveillance technology and programs while cutting about 150 programs-most of them from the Department of Education. EPIC's "Spotlight on Surveillance" project scrutinizes these surveillance programs.

Airport security has undergone significant changes since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Recently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a proposal to purchase and deploy "backscatter" X-ray machines to search air travelers at select airports. TSA said it believes that use of the machines is less invasive than pat-down searches. However, these machines, which show detailed images of a person's naked body, are equivalent to a "virtual strip search" for all air travelers. This proposal, along with the agency's controversial plan to profile air travelers, shows extraordinary disregard for the privacy rights of air travelers. The Department of Homeland Security is requesting $72 million to invest in detection systems, which includes funding for the backscatter machines, which cost between $100,00 and $200,000 each.

Read the rest at http://www.epic.org/privacy/surveillance/spotlight/0605.html, including pictures this technology produces.....

The airport security is normally more than enough. This method doesn't bring any new things except seeing them naked. It is also hazardous since it's radioactive...
I study medicine, the medical researchers are trying to find better ways than X-ray and avoiding it, because it's hazardous. And it's also ethically not good, i wouldn't allow it at all.
BTW, i want to tell that successful crimes increase when security increases... I don't know why, but it's the truth

Hmm.. i need to get my hands on 100-200k USD asap then
But seriously, i think this is a step too far... I'd prefer a strip search than a digital pic with my name stored somewhere, no matter how safe that somewhere is.

hmm, I wondered why the baggage ladies always kept smiling at me. Maybe this will give new hope to celebrity nude shots. This doesn't seem much different then when we found out that infrared cams could do practically the same thing. Maybe I will quit my job and go work for American airlines(Get paid to watch naked people).

THis is the biggest bull$h1t I have ever heard... xray machines at airports can do nothing but speed up the long waits at airports.

I have been to many airports and being pulled off to the side because a zipper on your cargo pants sets off the alarm seems to be a regular process now days.

I have also visited mexico a few times and been pulled off in the back room to go through an x-ray machine.

anyone who as ever received an x-ray from a doctor knows that it only shows and outline of your body and any solid mass ... aka as bones, weapons and drugs.


I highly disagree with the level of surveilance america is moving towards and the invasion of privacy as millions sit back and watch our bill of rights taken away from them.

But this is of only better protection for us, not an invasion of privacy...



X-ray is hazardous? dude xray radiation is micro to the amount of exposure a US Navy Sailor is exposed to in a ships reactor room which they work in day in and day out for 60 days at a time of 8 hour periods... it is less than what is emitted from the microwave in your house. how long is an x-ray ... less than a minute

Airport Security good enough? laugh if every member on this board attempted to either smuggle a knife or some form of drug through airport security 50% would make it onto the plane.

30% would get caught because of current security measures and the other 20% because of stupidity.

I spent 2 years doing security analysis for a naval station and airport with guards carrying M-16's.

We were able to penetrate those security measures, and from my experience in travel, regular airports do not compare.

Though, I do disagree with the method they propose of only the skins surface. This should be implemented in full x-ray just like the ones used in the sandiego/mexico border.

Salvia, get payed by NSA ?

A test unit has been in use at Heathrow for a few months now.

A whole new genre of pron will be born. See Lisa Geez naked at Heathrow! See her naked in Washington!

And then the "fake" xray pron sites will pop up.....

(quoting Lisa Geez, "Hey, I never posed for one those machines in Paris!")

Indeed, is their any more example photos? perhaps some of a girl instead of some fat guy with a saggy ass.

I wish

Nah while, I was in the military I had to do alot of traveling in airports, and it really blows. I can remember a few times of being pulled off because their sensors were so damn sensitive that the alarm was set off by the zippers on my cargo pants.

Or the trips to Tijuanna Mexico where I was pulled into the back room to go through their x-ray machine. I was given an option: Strip Search or Xray

I chose X-ray

But yeah these machines should be the same xray systems used in a doctors office. see all the way to the bones damn it!

gotta make sure these anti americans don't have anything shoved up their pooter.


then there would be no privacy concern Unless! you had something to hide

Wonder if the dorks forgot about terrahertz already...

@Salvia:
X-rays may not be hazardous for adult people, but it can be hazardous for babies, and expectant mothers...
And these X-rays will not be the same, but will work in the same way, also it sends radioactive x-rays and renders you naked

:| it aint rendering me naked...! haha i honestly think it will be a while before they get this implimented in lots of places because its unsafe and they can't xray you without permission/ rights... etc

i went thru an airport at logan (boston, ma) and they had me go thru this new device they said, and you walk into an enclosure and it sprays you with air in like 10 diferent places, then you walk out, supposedly for finding weapons and shit...
too bad it didnt find the oz of sweedish cheebah in my pants. lol