EPIC files lawsuit to suspend airport body scanner use

[Flashback]

Slashdot News Story | EPIC Files Lawsuit To Suspend Airport Body Scanner Use

"The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a petition for review and motion for an emergency stay, urging the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to suspend the Transportation Security Administration's full body scanner program. EPIC said that the program is 'unlawful, invasive, and ineffective' (PDF). EPIC argued that the federal agency has violated the Administrative Procedures Act, the Privacy Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the Fourth Amendment. EPIC cited the invasive nature of the devices, the TSA's disregard of public opinion, and the impact on religious freedom."

 

[drron]

Flash I didn't know you are a nerd!:shock:"Slashdot.News for nerds"
for a full report check here on the EPIC website-
EPIC - Whole Body Imaging Technology and Body Scanners ("Backscatter" X-Ray and Millimeter Wave Screening)

 

[Flashback]

Flash I didn't know you are a nerd!:shock:"Slashdot.News for nerds"
for a full report check here on the EPIC website-
EPIC - Whole Body Imaging Technology and Body Scanners ("Backscatter" X-Ray and Millimeter Wave Screening)

'course not:!: :shock:

 

[munitalP]

I honestly don't care about the full body scanner. Its only invasive in your mind. Personally, I want to know it Ranjit Bin Laden boarding AA777 LAX to wherever has a rocket launcher stuffed up his butt - it just makes me feel safer flying the friendly skies...

I think that anyone opposing these security measures needs to take a job that does not include flying.

I can see children issues, and that needs addressing separately , but for adults, the full body scanner is going to be a part of travel from here on in - like it or lump it, but there's no way to avoid it

munitalP

(BTW, I'm not comfy knowing someone is looking at my bits, but its over very fast, you don't meet and greet the looker, and I'm not seeing my bits pics on a large screen 3D Sony TV above the security check!)

:shock:

 

[NYCguy]

You can all walk through as many scanners as you like, I'll be having the pat-down. I refuse to participate in this paranoid BS.

 

[el_rooto]

Personally, I want to know it Ranjit Bin Laden boarding AA777 LAX to wherever has a rocket launcher stuffed up his butt - it just makes me feel safer flying the friendly skies...

It can't detect things up someone's cough. That is going to be fixed by the mandatory cough probe introduced next year.

Edit: Security Theater just doesn't work: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/11/the-things-he-carried/7057/

 

[Oneworldplus2]

...(BTW, I'm not comfy knowing someone is looking at my bits, but its over very fast, you don't meet and greet the looker, and I'm not seeing my bits pics on a large screen 3D Sony TV above the security check!)

:shock:

Therein lies the problem.

Claims on behalf of authorities that naked body scanner images are immediately destroyed after passengers pass through new x-ray backscatter devices have been proven fraudulent after it was revealed that naked images of Indian film star Shahrukh Khan were printed out and circulated by airport staff at Heathrow in London.

On Flyertalk.com in the security section, there are multiple threads discussing these body scanners.

Travel Safety/Security - FlyerTalk Forums

Complete List of Airports with BackScatter / MMV Nude-O-Scopes
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...t-airports-backscatter-mmv-nude-o-scopes.html

American Sikhs Decry Screenings, call for congress to act
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...sikhs-decry-screenings-call-congress-act.html

Organized resistance to WBI/invasive patdowns
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trav...ganized-resistance-wbi-invasive-patdowns.html

 

[samh004]

Perhaps people would feel more assured of no misuse if the technology was opened up a bit more, and by that I mean so that independent experts can make sure images can’t be saved and what not. Right now I presume the technology is all hush hush?

I haven’t had the pleasure yet, but I’m not sure how my religious freedom would be violated by a scanner checking I don’t have anything concealed under my clothes? Either way it doesn’t worry me.

There should be a way to build the use of the scanning into the rules of the ticket, such that anyone that doesn’t want to be scanned doesn’t have to be, by simply not buying a ticket and not using that airport. No one’s compelling them to fly

 

[drron]

Another US perspective on scanners-
What’s the real lowdown on the Full Body Scanners?

 

[samh004]

Another US perspective on scanners-
What’s the real lowdown on the Full Body Scanners?

So basically they’re slower and less thorough.

 

[medhead]

They are supposed to be work on a software upgrade that only displays a stick figure.

In terms of forcing people to be scanned is that they involve radiation exposure to a trivial level of radiation. The problem with this is no matter how trivial the current theory says that radiation could kill you. Therefore one should always have the option to not be scanned.

 

[cove]

Have been scanned and it took about 75 seconds a passenger so no big deal. They did not discover a butt supercharged with a rocket launcher in my line. No one was complaining nor was there any laughter coming from the screeners.
Maybe there is a back room big screen tv for that but I really don't think so.

 

[Will]

Have been scanned and it took about 75 seconds a passenger so no big deal. They did not discover a butt supercharged with a rocket launcher in my line. No one was complaining nor was there any laughter coming from the screeners.
Maybe there is a back room big screen tv for that but I really don't think so.

It taking only 75 seconds does not mean it's no big deal. We don't know how much radiation they are emitting (TSA won't release specs) nor do we know the effect of XR designed to be absorbed by skin. I take it extremely seriously and will refuse whenever possible.

Furthermore, if they see anything they don't like, can't identify, or if they like the look of you, you can still be required to submit to an 'enhanced' search - a grope of your entire body, include testes, cough, breasts, cough.

In other words, to fly in the USA today you can be required to either be photographed naked or sexually assaulted. How disgusting. I'm sincerely hoping an injunction is granted and ultimately a permanent stay.

 

[medhead]

The radiation levels are actually very low. But they still have a theoretically very small chance of giving someone cancer. As best I could work out using the resources of google and wikipedia it is a bit less than the chance of being killed by hijacking based on a rough guesstimate o the number of deaths from that sort of thing for the last 50 years. So a minisicule chance. But people should be informed IMO

 

[cove]

I really don't see it as a problem.
So many of us would prefer to be finely tuned athletes but unfortunately in my case I have a case of over active teeth.
75 seconds was the total time so the scan would be less than 30 seconds.
Add to that no laughter so no issue in my opinion to stand in the way of safety.

 

[Will]

Add to that no laughter so no issue in my opinion to stand in the way of safety.

You really, honestly, believe that TBI improves safety? Please. I don't object to intrusive questioning and searches of belongings that improve security (eg at TLV) but the TSA does nothing of the sort. It deals with yesterday's problem using security amateurs, at enormous cost to human dignity. Not to mention the 4th amendment.

 

[notzac]

My main issue is with the time it takes to pass through the scanner; you'd think they'd make newer, shinier tech work faster. When I went through one of these in SFO it took forever! I'd also question whether they actually make things more secure or not (which I doubt).

 

[NM]

In terms of forcing people to be scanned is that they involve radiation exposure to a trivial level of radiation.

And how many people realise the risks of exposure to gamma radiation just from being in the aircraft at altitude anyway?

 

[cove]

The folks in my line were very relaxed about it.
Just go with the flow here I think.

 

[simongr]

Furthermore, if they see anything they don't like, can't identify, or if they like the look of you, you can still be required to submit to an 'enhanced' search - a grope of your entire body, include testes, cough, breasts, cough.

In other words, to fly in the USA today you can be required to either be photographed naked or sexually assaulted. How disgusting. I'm sincerely hoping an injunction is granted and ultimately a permanent stay.

Seriously? Sexually assaulted? Mountain -> Molehill.

At this point in time I can be patted down at virtually every airport I fly from already. Additionally if they don't what they find I am sure there is a room they can take me to for a full inspection. TBI doesn't change that.

I personally hadn't consider the radiation risk but it doesn't bother me that much.

Naked pics of me on the internet - I seriously don't think you will get many people clicking through...