TSA Body Scanners To Show Less Revealing Images

tgtanman writes "The Washington Post reports that the TSA will begin installing new software on millimeter wave body scanners at 41 airports that will replace the controversial body images with generic images of the body. While the change is currently limited to millimeter wave scanners, similar upgrades for backscatter scanners is being developed, according to the TSA. The ACLU has applauded the changes but continues to note other concerns with the scanners."

Wait, what?

[Baloroth]

If it was possible to do this in software to begin with, and they knew the images were "controversial" to begin with, why the hell didn't they just do this from the very beginning? My understanding of the system was that it was the fact that the images revealed everything, so to speak, that they were effective. So either they need to be revealing (which they clearly don't), or they've just been lying the whole time.

Which brings me to my second question. Who is being paid to develop this software? Is this literally a case where they could have done something in the beginning, but didn't so that they could charge extra later, and then look like good guys because they are "protecting our rights"? Or am I missing something here? Because it looks very much to me like this move shows that they were pressing as hard as they could to see how far they could go "to stop terrorists", then, when people object, stepping back the tiniest inch (and BTW, anyone who doesn't go through these still has to be frisked) and trying to look like good guys.

Seriously, this absolutely reeks of deception and probably downright lying. Of course, now people will back off and the TSA can continue with their security theater. The ACLU doesn't need to applaud this decision: they need to launch a class action lawsuit and corruption investigation to shut down the TSA.

Re:Wait, what?

[evil_aaronm]

I forget the term for this, but I think it's along the lines of, "They set the bar at this height, we resist a bit, and they lower the bar a little, and we relent, now that the bar is lower, but we've still lost because the bar exists in the first place."

This isn't going to stop anytime soon

[hamburgler007]

It's sad how far down the shitter we are, namely past the point of no return. If the supreme court ruled against these invasive searches, it would stop, but scotus almost always sides with the federal government. If travelers protested by not travelling by air it would stop, but that certainly isn't going to happen. All the budget problems won't stop it, the government would sooner cut education than "defense." It's not realistic to see a genuine concerted effort by the majority of the public to stop this. Sure there are stories that infuriate the populace from time to time, but generally speaking those stories are quickly forgotten, with the occasional token legislation to treat a symptom of the disease, but not the disease itself. Say what you will about the tea party (I find most of their ideals reprehensible), but they are the only party for a long time who have motivated private citizens to become politically active. While I may not agree with the legislation they try to push through, I have a great deal of respect for them, in that they actively get involved with flaws they perceive in the government rather than grumble about standing in line to get scanned or the latest TSA faux pas.

TSA, a risk factor

[Roachie]

I heard that Al Qaeda was going to use rogue TSA agents to smuggle explosives into the secure areas of the airports.

The only way to be sure is to perform a cavity check on each and every TSA agent when they arrive for work, every day they show up.

Spread the word about this risk.

Re:TSA "Cancer Coffins"

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't get it - if the guy's a troll, he's certainly a very odd troll. His posts have been consistently batshit insane. His Facebook page has over 500 friends, but almost all of them appear to be chiropractors. He may have gone out and tried to friend every chiropractor he could find online, and if so that just seems a bit sad. If he's trying to get a rise of tech geeks, spine adjustments is a very obscure attack vector.

If it's an attempt to discredit chiropractors, it's a pretty brilliant Kaufmanesque move. However, I'm going to apply Occam's Razor and say that the most likely answer is that he's a total nutjob.

Re:Successful project

[Anonymous Coward]

DAE remember that before these scanners were first installed the TSA, in combination with the Department of Homeland Security, certified that there was software in place which blurred the naughty bits and prevented any sort of saving, printing, etc, of the images... and that it all turned out to be a COMPLETE AND INTENTIONAL LIE?

DAE ever go look at the TENS OF THOUSANDS of high quality images that have been posted on the internet by TSA agents who saved the images to a personal thumb drive since there is no security whatsoever which would prevent saving of images to a USB device? Who needs Anon? "GGW: Airport Scanner" is already a reality (at work or I'd link it)