The Ineffectiveness of TSA Body Scanners - Now With Surveillance Camera Footage 219
McGruber writes "Jonathan Corbett, the subject of the earlier Slashdot Story: 'The Ineffectiveness of TSA Body Scanners,' has an update for us. His video showing him wandering through a nude body scanner with undetected objects is now complete with the feeds from TSA's security cameras at the checkpoint."
Cool video (Score:5, Interesting)
Lol, nice. Of course the software the L3 scanners use doesn't show any 'nude' pics anymore, the TSA just gets the warning from the software if it thinks there is a weapons with a generic outline of a human form with an arrow. They used to keep the nude images in a remote room but the last software release I am aware of ditched that too. Ironically, when the software was updated the worry was that it would be less effective and it seems they might be correct. However, were I planning to smuggle something on the plane myself I would hardly count on the scanner not picking it up.
The Patdown Procedure Was Horrifying For Me (Score:5, Interesting)
After watching the original video some months ago, I had my first confrontation with the nude body scanners in May. I initially wasn't sure if opting out would be easy or hard, but when I saw the woman in front of me (with a toddler in her arms) have the cardboard cutout in front of the "out of service" metal detector moved, I thought "Well, it's just as easy as asking for that."
However, when I requested to not use the scanner, I wasn't allowed to walk through the metal detector despite asking for it (it worked; I saw the lights flashing on it). I was told to wait where I was for a pat down. When the TSA worker walked me to the screening area, he politely told me what he was going to do before he did it, and proceeded to feel along my arms, waistline and chest/back. However, when he went to do my legs, he went straight up from my ankles to my crotch, squishing my genitals into my perineum (I was wearing loose sports shorts). I jumped up a flash of panic, and he told me to stay still, because he was going to do it again on the other leg!
I've traveled across the globe and gone through many security processes (including Israel, where I was subjected to a strip search), and this was by far the most invasive, mortifying experience I've ever had. I found myself sitting by my gate feeling ashamed of what just happened, and suddenly I I understood where those cheesy-seeming accounts of molestation/fondling victims really come from. I've never understood, until now, just how it feels to be groped unwillingly, and how those emotions feel exactly as they are described by sexual assault victims. It's a sick feeling you get in your stomach when someone does something to you without your permission, and you are helpless to stop them. I learned that from the TSA.
I'm not comparing the magnitude of my experience to those of rape victims or children that have been abused, but just the fact that going through a security screening at an American airport jars memories of those horror stories is enough for me to take action and support Jonathan Corbett's cause, and I hope you do, too. The TSA has other methods for security, and is choosing to continue with these naked pictures/shameful patdowns despite public outcry, and it wouldn't be American to not do something about it.
Re:The Patdown Procedure Was Horrifying For Me (Score:2, Interesting)
Next time just pop a viagra before your flight and get your pat down with a stiffy and a huge smile on your face. See how enthusiastic the TSA agent is on his next groping. The emotions you feel are all about having power taken from you. Take that power back. Show them who is really in charge of your body and do it proudly.
Re:Too lazy to do more research (Score:1, Interesting)
That is a good one.
I dislike the scanners as much as most other normal people, and it seems the evidence suggests they are ineffective. But the constant complaining about being seen naked puts me off and I don't care to be associated people who are obviously either overacting the part or have legit mental issues related to their body. That some anonymous boob who couldn't find a better paying job sees a digital representation of my cock, does not bother me at all. In fact, if he wants to print out the photo I'll happily autograph it. It isn't that my cock is somehow spectacular looking, it actually looks a lot like other cocks I have seen. Which is the point: most everyone looks roughly the same naked and whether or not a radio wave scanner digitization is available just about everyone can guess about what you'd look like naked using just the clues provided by your clothed body.
Yes, maybe you have 3 nipples and don't want anyone to know. Maybe, like an ex girlfriend of mine, you seem to have no nipples at all. Or you hang to the left or some similar triviality. In the long run you'd be a lot better off just not worrying about who might know those inconsequential details about you.
But the scanners are still stupid for other reasons.
Re:The Patdown Procedure Was Horrifying For Me (Score:4, Interesting)
In Thailand my body search was a completely trouble free experience. It lasted approximately 10 seconds. The officer used the back of her hand and ran it through any part of drooped loose fitting clothing to make sure I'm not carrying something concealed and then waved me through. I don't think she even touched my crouch, probably stopped short by 10cm.
It is probably more effective than the TSA scan which is primarily concerned with making you uncomfortable.
Re:Cool video (Score:4, Interesting)
This is why we need body cavity searches. It is the only way we'll be safe.
You missed an important part -- who gets searched.
Good airport security will not be reestablished until every TSA worker and supervisor in passenger and baggage screening is subject to a body cavity search at the start and end of every shift. That's the only way to prevent TSA theft.
Re:sept. 11th really ruined the U.S. (Score:4, Interesting)
Let's face it. There isn't anything legal their citizens could really do. Revolt is pretty much all that's left for radical change...
Well, they could vote. In many if not most major races, there actually are third party candidates.
The biggest enemy of the American people is not their lack of possible legal actions -- they could easily vote most of these people out of office. The problem is that most of the public has been brainwashed to believe that they should only vote for "someone who can win," which generally only means someone of two parties. If you change that perspective, you immediately could shake up most of the government.
But if you can't even convince people that their leaders are bad enough to vote outside the two-party system, there's no way in hell you're going to get them to arm themselves in insurrection. This is just a stupid argument, because way before you could get a real revolt going, you could certainly convince people to start voting yahoos out of office... by perfectly legal means.
Even within the two parties, they could actually show up to things like caucuses, hang around and get nominated as delegates to state parties -- like, for example, the Ron Paul people have done in a number of states. (For the record, I'm not a Paul supporter, but I admire what his folks are doing.) The Republicans appear to be fighting the Paulites tooth-and-nail at local conventions to disenfranchise them, but they can only do so much. The Paul people have taken over state parties in a number of states. You can bet that those libertarian officials will at least have an impact on state politics, and we have yet to see how much of a hoopla they can raise at the national Republican convention.
Will this completely change the Republican party? I don't know. But there's a reason the mainstream Republicans have downplayed Paul at every turn... he doesn't play by their rules. He's not a "player." He has views that don't change for the most part. He consistently tells things like he sees them, rather than making crap up that people want to hear. I don't agree with a lot of what he has to say, but his efforts show that someone who has the right charisma can make a big impact... we'll have to see how far he goes.
Anyhow, there are lots of legal things the citizens of the U.S. could do. It's not like there are laws preventing you from voting for someone other than a Democrat or Republican. The problem is just convincing enough people that it's worthwhile -- which, again, would be a heck of a lot easier than inciting them to insurrection... so start with getting them to just show up to a voting booth first, rather than staying home and watching the lastest episode of reality TV or whatever the heck it is that people do. After you get them to the voting booth, you can invite them out to your militia or whatever the hell it is that you do.
Re:Too lazy to do more research (Score:5, Interesting)
BTW, the correct term is "porno scanner", not "nude scanner". The latter sounds too benign. Just FWIW. :-D
If you are going for non- benign, try calling it a "pedo scanner", and use the term often and loudly when young kids are lining up to be scanned.