Full-Body Scanners Deployed In Street-Roving Vans

pickens writes "Forbes reports that the same technology used at airport check points, capable of seeing through clothes and walls, has also been rolling out on US streets where law enforcement agencies have deployed the vans to search for vehicle-based bombs. 'It's no surprise that governments and vendors are very enthusiastic about [the vans],' says Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. 'But from a privacy perspective, it's one of the most intrusive technologies conceivable.' Rotenberg adds that the scans, like those in the airport, potentially violate the fourth amendment. 'Without a warrant, the government doesn't have a right to peer beneath your clothes without probable cause,' Rotenberg says. 'If the scans can only be used in exceptional cases in airports, the idea that they can be used routinely on city streets is a very hard argument to make.'"

No conspiracy here, move along

[ZDRuX]

Don't listen to conspiracy nuts, all these things that have been talked about 20 years ago and have come to pass are just coincidences!! I swear!

I'm going to make..

[Rivalz]

I'm going to make x-ray resistant clothing and supply it free of charge to everyone in america.
Sure it might have a small side effect of being created with lead paint and turn your body into a microwave oven when they fire the xray in your direction. But just think of the look on the faces of the techs when they start to microwave innocent tax payers without their consent or knowledge and they drop dead. I might go as far to make pet clothing available but that has yet to be determined.

Neat!

[zmollusc]

Hah! With the right aerials, i can top up my hybrid's battery as it is parked on the street.

Re:If it violates an amendment

[Anonymous Coward]

Neither. If no one is allowed to wear clothes, then there is no "peeking under clothes" law being broken. Look for a "Only terrorists wear clothing" slogan on a billboard near you.

Can't wait for...

[geogob]

..."Google X-ray backscatter view". Germans are really going to love that one!

This is awsome for the police!

[durrr]

If the officers don't like you, they'll peek at you naked with this device and then arrest you for undecent public exposure.

Next up in law enforcement technology: Directed transcranial magnetic stimulation to disable the visual cortex of bystanders to prevent criminals from identifying those who protect us, dualing in its use for making criminals confess all crimes they are accused for.

Hey, Mr. Glass-Half-Empty. . .

[Anonymous Coward]

A doctor needs informed consent to do an X-ray because of the risk from radiation. Why do these people think that they can irradiate people just because they want to?

The shorter your lifespan, the less likely you are to be the victim of a terrorist. You're welcome.

Factor 50000?

[DaRanged]

So its time to buy that chain-mail underwear/cloak you've been meaning to get from <insert geek store site here> but never could justify it.

Simples!

Good job team!

[Simmeh]

When are these available for the public and will someone point me to the nearest police station/strip club? thanks! ;)

xkcd

[AliasMarlowe]

What - no xkcd references yet???
http://xkcd.com/779/ [xkcd.com]
Gotta look your "best" for the backscatter scan!

Re:Ok, honestly?

[AnAdventurer]

My grandmother was on a plane hijacked in the 70's. It was LAX to JFK via layover in SFO. 30 minutes out of LAX a "crazy guy" (not a terrorist) with a gun took the plane over and had the pilots head to HNL. Upon the news over the intercom that the flight would be diverted (and was now a hostage situation) the passenger erupted in applause, apparently it was primarily business travelers. At least it's how Gran told the story. HNL = Honolulu.