TSA L-3’s XXX-Rated Airport Scanner Pictures
I know that I have blogged about this before (Okay, Thoughts Please? I am all for improved security, but how would you like to be strip searched on camera by airport security?) and I would like to clarify that I am in favour or good airport security; but I am not in favour of being personally ‘virtually strip searched’. Whilst I applaud the fact that airports like LAX do not enforce this as a mandatory security scan (yet)… I do wonder why they have not posted the following pictures in the scanner area of the airport where they are asking people if they would prefer the scan or a pat down search.
I personally think that if people actually knew what they were agreeing to, the TSA would see a sharp decrease in the number of people who are agreeing to be scanned. It seems that these ‘volunteers’ aren’t actually making a fully informed choice.
I mean, lets face it… If someone asked you in the airport if you’d mind stepping in to this machine instead of a pat down search, you might agree right?
But what about if they then told you that the person scanning you would see an image similar to this one?
Also, before you say they’re not too bad… Apparently the scanners pictures appear at a higher screen resolution than these!
I wan’t to make clear that I don’t completely object to these… I just think that:
a) People should Be shown good example pictures first, so that they are making an ‘informed’ choice.
b) These images should be checked for abnormalities by a nurse or medical professional rather than some TSA flunkie
Personally as it stands, I believe it is a slightly unnecessary invasion of privacy though, even with a nurse if I am honest… Because I don’t think that all scans should be personally viewed-I mean; these scanners are searching for an unusually dense mass, right? Surely, the sotware can be programmed to recognise this abnomality; and select only these scans to be more closely scrutinized by human security workers?
More information from The official TSA blog can be found at this link: You asked for it… You got it, Millimeter Wave Images
So now for a quick poll…
Partner of a Pilot 
I don’t see why not. In the interests of tighter security I think it’s great. You’ll never see the security men/women again and hopefully they’d be professional about it. What’s a moments embarrassment when you know your plane is safe?
RB - October 22, 2008 at 10:14 pm |
what a stupid fuck!!! what if, they take a digital image of yourself and store that. now you want to leave the country, your on a no fly list, you make a fake passport and mask to get out, you go to the airport and your stopped because your not john Doe, your really RB????
Dean - January 11, 2010 at 7:00 pm |
Haha … mindless main-stream media fed zombie!!! Wow this idiot has to be American… Only someone blissfully oblivous could make such a statement …
People like you are lazy close minded “patriots” who will NEVER question their governments motives even when they find an inverted scan of their 13 year old daughter on limewire.
I hope you choke and die on your next big mac you fool.
Isiah - November 5, 2010 at 12:53 am |
A month back, I volunteered to use the machine at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport. I blogged about my experience with the machine – http://airlinerblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/my-experince-with-the-virtual-strip-search/
It is interesting since I would rather have a stranger look at my x-ray pictures than a person patting me down :).
Airline Blogger - October 22, 2008 at 10:30 pm |
RB, you probably not travel often enough… I see some security staff so frequently that I know their names…
I would agree with, such searches only if there is a medical diagnostic done at the same time 🙂
PlasticPilot - October 23, 2008 at 6:49 am |
I completely agree with RB. I get nervous about terrorism and anything they can do that further eliminates this risk is fine by me!
I might add also – the last time we flew, OH and I were both ‘patted down’ searched. As we walked into the departures lounge my OH had a funny look on his face. When I asked him what was up, he said his “goods” had just been blatantly felt up by the security guy!
Scan away…
Flyme - October 23, 2008 at 9:15 am |
Why not have the process automated though, so that only the abnormal/possibly abnormal scans are viewed by a human?
Partner of a Pilot - December 31, 2009 at 7:50 pm |
Good idea, I read it on your blog too. I personally think that in order to secure freedom you need more of a component than just safety. You need dignity and bravery as well. I would never let a digital device take such detailed images if i could avoid it. Every computing device that can be accessed can be hacked, and if there are nudish photos on it, it will be. Also, every TSA agent i have ever dealt with was mildy retarded, but not in a sweet way.
Atom - November 24, 2010 at 1:35 am |
No, I don’t fly much but if I did I would be in favour of the scans and would fly often if it included a medical at the same time – that is a genius idea!
RB - October 23, 2008 at 2:10 pm |
Amsterdam Schipol this morning.
A collegue of mine and myself, WITHOUT ANY PREVENTATIVE INFORMATION on X-Ray emission, are “invited to pass through the L3 Proscan security system.
This is unfair! Moreover, it is AGAINST all European Directives and local laws!!!
Also, think about women that could be pregnant… DNA damage of the embrions!!!
We all MUST complain with KLM and other Companies.
Personally, I will avoid shipol airport forever!!!
Please extend the complain!
I hate terrorists, but this is another type of terrorism too!!!
Pino - November 13, 2008 at 7:59 am |
You guys are all retarded if you don’t realize that this is nothing but a show to make you feel safe. Taking your shoes off, no liquids above a certain amount, a strip show now! For one they don’t do it to everyone so quite a few get by. Two, terrorist are not stupid. You think they are going to go to an airport with one of these machines? Fuck no! They will find ways around this. Because of a few incidents they make traveling miserable, but people like you think this is for our safety. They have done studies and had people try to sneak things through, and guess what, they get guns, knives, anything through. This will catch a kid smuggling a small bag of weed at the most. This is a violation of our rights, not a safety precaution. I have even gotten away with sharp objects I forgot to take out of my bag. Maybe you should think for yourselves instead of what the TV tells you is a good thing. I guess that is asking too much from an American these days.
LV - November 13, 2008 at 7:45 pm |
LV, I think you’ll find that not one of the commentors above is actually American, although I’m not entirely sure what that has to do with any thing.
Plus I think it’s a bit rude to call people retarded simply for stating their opinions. We’re each entitled to an opinion.
I for one do not like these scanners, but more because I think that the participants are not fully informed as to what they’re consenting to, and because I believe that most of these scans could be monitored by an automated system rather than a human.
I think you’d get a better response, and that people might listen to what you have to say more if you don’t sling abuse at them
Partner of a Pilot - November 14, 2008 at 8:31 pm |
I’m so glad I found this page. A friend of mine suggested that I look it up because in the El Paso County Courthouse in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this is how everyone gets through security. I’m a female Iraq war veteran and six of the security officers for the court are my old platoon members so this is somewhat embarrassing for me especially because I’ve had to visit the court house on numerous occasions over the past few months. If the court/airport security officers job is to detect metal objects that can be used as weapons and explosive devices that can also be detected though a hand held wanding device, than the nature of this so called “security” scanner should be available to anyone “volunteering” to go through it.
lynz - March 5, 2009 at 8:22 pm |
Yikes, so does this mean that people you know well are able to view these images of you? That seems quite wrong
Partner of a Pilot - December 29, 2009 at 7:53 pm |
Sorry to burst everybodies paranoid bubble!!
The scanner uses millimetre wave technology….completely inert.
The ‘sensitive’ areas of the body are blurred out, so are not seen by the operator.
And only females can scan females etc.
This scanner will pick up any type of weapon so is a bonus.
Metal detectors have a hard time picking up plastic exposives so get used to these scanners they are the only way forward.
And just for info…..LV you are a mong
steve - July 2, 2009 at 1:47 pm |
My wife and step daughter (aged 11, though has the looks of a teenager) and I, went through security in Atlanta, Georgia.
Only the females were “invited” to go through the L-3 system.
My wife was not asked to remove wrist bangles and therefore caused the machine to ‘bleep’ and a scan was made.
I, the male, was not invited to be scanned.
When my wife came out of the machine, I asked what it did. We were told, “It looks under clothing”, an office was pointed out were the viewing screen was and the official added, “that’s where the guy sits”.
As we left the area my wife told me that she felt violated.
Despite all the arguments for and against the system, please remember it is viewed by human beings and, as such, the system is open to misuse and abuse.
If the authorities want the blessing of the public, which they must have before this goes any further (we live in a democratic society), the screen must be viewed by another machine and, if the system is misused, stiff penalties, that are introduced by the public, should be in place.
This ensures responsibility for our personal privacy.
If any officials balk at this, they must come up with alternatives that we can willingly accept.
I invite their comments.
Dean Harris - August 11, 2009 at 6:51 pm |
I’m strongly against male officers looking at the pictures. I’m a male myself. If a female officer was to see them I actually wouldn’t mind. That is for myself and my wife too. And most of all for children; women are the child bearers anyway so it matters less that they be the ones that see the images. I’ll vote for female only security officer viewing pictures and for much better software to blurr out properly the private parts.
I will NOT fly if the officers are male.
This system would anger the religious societies alot too. There is no end to technologies advancements and so the requirment for this isn’t so great.
The Man - October 13, 2009 at 9:31 pm |
What if the security guard is a lesbian, and gets off on seeing the scans?
George - January 12, 2010 at 3:44 pm |
well, I personally wouldn’t be bothered by that as much, as she has all the same equipment I do… If she was that keen to look at naked women, all she’d have to do is go to the local gym and take a sauna!
Partner of a Pilot - January 12, 2010 at 9:30 pm |
They should have 2 scanning devices; one for male and the other for female. They should have a male officer monitoring the male scanner and a female officer monitoring the female scanner. I think that most people would prefer this to the physical searches. Judging by the images the scanners produce, this method would be a great improvement in security and make most people feel a lot safer flying.
Bonz - December 27, 2009 at 3:23 pm |
The company who makes these scanners (and the TSA) have released low resolution images only. The quality of high resolution is very detailed and they feel that if we saw those we would reject the proposal of using them– and then the company would not get the contract to provide these to every airport.
Also the blurred genital area is only for publication of these images. In airport use the genital area will be in high detail–not blurred– the whole point is that they are looking to see what else you might have in your pants.
And in the airports currently offering you the option of the scan or the pat down, when I’ve gone through I have never heard any TSA worker explain that the scan is like seeing you naked– people assume it is just a more sensitive metal detector and happily go to it vs the patdown because the understaffed pat down takes longer to get done. People simply would like to make their flights.
Jack - December 29, 2009 at 2:52 pm |
Jack, do you know of any high resolution images that I can link to?
Partner of a Pilot - December 31, 2009 at 12:55 pm |
People in hospitals and doctor offices have x-rays that reveal the same thing (I work there). These x-rays are for less than life threatening issues. In airports, they identify DEADLY objects, not to determine broken bones or pneumonia, the airport scanners identify things that will kill people. In a medical setting, more people have access to these for daily work with your chart than the one or two quick glance TSA agents will see. OH, and once you’ve seen a few naked bodies…trust me, it’s not that pleasurable experience. People can be so vain as to think TSA agents actually WANT to see these images all day long…doctors and nurses for that matter. Get over yourselves please and save a plane from burning to the ground by terrorists.
JOE - January 8, 2010 at 6:20 am |
What a bunch of Victorian hypersensitive Americans. I would rather have someone look at a scan rather than touch my person. More importantly the high resolution sees bombs – dah. Why don’t you all take the train!
Gary davis - January 4, 2010 at 3:10 am |
I for one am not embarrassed to have my naked body looked at. To me it’s just more of a right to choose who I want to look at it. Obviously, that wouldn’t be an option with these scanners and the amount of people traveling through airports. I travel on a regular basis for work and most people working for airport security (in my experience) aren’t the brightest people. I personally think the incompetence of the airport security is the main reason for people getting on the plane with the intent to hurt others. Instead of doing an overhaul on training these people they make an easy fix. It just seems to me that freedoms of mine are slowly being stripped away. I have less and less say so about my life and the government seems to have more and more. I just think I get more upset at the fact that because of (in my eyes) stupid, confused, people and their beliefs I have to sacrifice my privacy and rights. Yeah, Gary I guess I’m one of those hyper sensitive Americans that enjoys his freedom. Don’t worry we are on our way to socialism soon. So, will have no rights to be sensitive about anymore.
JW
jw - January 5, 2010 at 7:49 pm |
Couldn’t agree more JW
Partner of a Pilot - January 6, 2010 at 9:45 pm |
Wake Up! Resistance is Victory! Airport Scanners are being used to peddle Child Porn to Elitists Banksters around the Globe starting a few months ago. These scanners also break down your DNA and make you sick, not only the people being scanned but those who are near them on a daily basis. These body scanners have NOTHING to do with “safety” it’s about making YOU the Sheeple Slaves to Banksters. WAKE UP AND FIGHT BACK!
AmericanInsurgent - January 5, 2010 at 9:39 pm |
Dogs do a better job.
guy - January 7, 2010 at 1:17 pm |
If I had the choice of sitting next to someone with a gun or a bomb about to take the plane down…meaning that I would DIE…please scan my personal image instead. I’d rather arrive at my destination with all the same body parts as when I departed than have them arrive home in little plastic baggies. Thanks.
JOE - January 8, 2010 at 6:10 am |
I say let them use the scanners! Whats the worst that can happen? Someone makes a copy and posts it on the internet? I’ve seen much worse in the National Enquirer! They wouldn’t know who you are anyway.
Besides, all this concern about privacy, you know what usually fixes the problem…something going wrong. The moment the first picture is “leaked” onto the internet then something will have to be done about it.
Last time I went to Europe, we sat in the plane on the tarmac for 6 hours while someone was removed from the plane under suspicion. Their bags had to be retrieved and everything.
I say let them look at my penis for 30 seconds if that will save me from sitting on the tarmac for 6 hours.
Thats just me though, I don’t really mind. I do understand the argument of those who oppose the scanners – essentially they are making a strip search mandatory. No airplane security guard should be given the right to arbitrarily strip search everyone who boards a flight.
R - January 15, 2010 at 8:14 am |
I took one of the Internet examples of the high-frequency scan and inverted it in Photoshop. I also applied a Gaussian Blur, Unsharp Mask, and other tricks in Layers to create a natural nude image.
You can see it at my legal blog on Airport Security: http://paralegalnm.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/is-a-new-general-order-11-against-islam-justified/
And yes, her boobs are da’ bomb!
paralegalnm - February 9, 2010 at 8:12 pm |
Terrorism kills less than 300 people a year… the normal flu kills over 36,000. I’m not saying we need to forget about it… but lets be real for a second. Since 9/11, our govt has done a damn good job of leaving us in a constant state of fear. Because of that panic and fear mentality, we have openly handed away countless civil liberties, as well as our privacy, to feel “safe”. It’s complete BS. Has anyone noticed the issue of convienence any of the following incidents have had for our govt? 9/11 – The Patriot Act and the war plans to invade Iraq were drawn up PRIOR to the WTC attacks. No one in congress wanted to back either one BEFORE 9/11… but after they were all for it. Fort Hood – As the President was debating on sending more troops to fight the war on terror… polling numbers showed that Americans were much less supportive of the continued war effort in Afghanastan. Enter Nidal Hassan at Fort Hood in Nov 2009. He happens to be of middle eastern decent, happens to “have links to Al Qaeda”… and we are told he shot up the base because of Jihad. Boom, new support is for the war is born and more sons and daughters are sent to fight for… what? Freedom? Democracy? Strategic military base sites? Oil? Why do we need a military presence in 156 countries around the globe? Are we really spreading democracy or an American Empire? Because forcing democracy by way of war seems counterproductive to me. But, it is an amazing money making venture for defense contractors and those companies lucky enough to get those ellusive no-bid contracts to “rebuild” after WE destroy it. Disgusting if you ask me.
Ryan Henke - February 10, 2010 at 4:20 pm |
Last time I checked, flying is not a right guaranteed by the constitution (here or in any other country). If you absolutely can’t subject yourself to following a rule designed to help ensure safety (because one or two bad apples have spoiled the whole bunch), then for Christ’s sake DON’T FLY. There are lots of other modes of transportation that don’t come close (or will ever) to violating your or your loved ones personal privacy. Quit whining about inconvenience.
CommonSense - March 5, 2010 at 6:49 pm |
I agree if my kids are willing to use this machine without complaining than adults should take a long look in the mirror
Sawyer - November 24, 2010 at 6:03 am |
I’m never flying again. Period.
Those who would exchange liberty and freedom for safety deserve neither liberty, freedom, nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin
Airport scans are a choice to give up your rights to privacy. Unless you think it is okay to take your wife & children through a scanner so some pervert can scan their naked bodies. Screw this. I hate what this country has become.
I’ll cast my vote with my wallet.
crasster - March 7, 2010 at 5:24 pm |
I saw a good funny by Joe Boss on TSA,
It is funny
Walloy
Wally F - March 12, 2010 at 3:04 pm |
Join us in protest (and discussion) on Facebook:
All Facebook Against Airport Full Body Scanners
13,700 members and rising.
Steve S - May 11, 2010 at 4:26 am |
Until they figure out how to eliminate screeners from WBI machines, people should be fully aware of the images:
http://www.rupture.co.uk/Terminal%204.html
steve999 - June 8, 2010 at 2:25 am |
When was the last time someone flew a plane into a building or carried a weapon on a plane? Personally I think we’re doing a pretty good job without virtual strip searches or molesting our women and children. This unnessary technology is the work of corrupt and perverted businessmen.There is no reason these images should reveal anything except the weapons themselves. Tell me again why it’s neccessary to record naked pictures of women and children?
Tim Larson - November 16, 2010 at 12:14 am |
I love it. I like to show off my penis to people and now I can do it in public at the airport! I am flying this weekend and plan to wear loose fitting thin pants and a trench coat. I will get my penis really hard and walk into the scanner showing off my erect shaft while I smile. It’s going to be so much fun!
Mike - November 23, 2010 at 8:25 pm |
There are tons of abnormality recognition softwares available that would keep any of this from being an issue. Then it would work like a current metal detector, it would alarm, you can take off ur belt and try again.
mickey - November 24, 2010 at 6:55 pm |
These scanners will not detect surgically implanted explosives or those inserted into body cavities. This is invasion of privacy which I think is the intent to get everyone used to their privacy being invaided and voilated. A patient of mine (disabled US Veteran) was ordered to remove his hat, which he did, but he objected to the traveler in front of him not being required to remove his turban. He made an issue out of it, and security was called on the Veteran. Perhaps everyone should buy and wear a “flight turban” (made in the USA by “Burkas for Barbie”) through airport security then we can see who gets racially profiled. I favor the detination booth in which a person enters and if they have any explosives, they explode, and BOOM that is all thre is to it. No racial profiling, no nude scanners, no groping. Real quick, and to the point. True security.
Paul - November 26, 2010 at 3:43 am |
[…] I have written before about my issues with the scanner images in this post called: TSA L-3′s XXX-Rated Airport Scanner Pictures. The comments on that post have been both interesting and funny to […]
XXX TSA Scanner Humour « Partner of a Pilot - November 26, 2010 at 3:51 pm |
i personaly don’t care if they wanna look at my dick. i do care on the part about underage kids. Kids should not be put threw the scanners for so many reason’s. Other then that, scan away. I would rather have people scanned then have to kill someone on a airplane who dicided to try to blow it up because they beleave in there so called “god”. Also i would like to add..a big FUCK YOU to the piece of shit euro’s who think that all american’s are mindless and robots.
Rich - November 28, 2010 at 2:20 am |
The TSA Let a Loaded Gun Get on an Airplane.
Is this true?
http://gizmodo.com/5714865/the-tsa-let-a-loaded-gun-get-on-an-airplane
The TSA is broken. TSA Body Scan and Pat-downs are wroung.
John Drake - December 18, 2010 at 8:39 pm |
I was going through airport security in Oakland California in Jan,2011. I was asked to put my hands above my head and as I complied, I realizes that I was being xrayed! Had I had the slightest warning, I would have gladly had a cavity search or anything else as I am highly sensitive to xray and have already had more than my share. I immediately became ill and could not get my body temperature normal all winter. Now I have 2 malignant melanomas. I wish that I had just had a regular search.
Maggie - November 28, 2011 at 6:33 am |
I think you need to update your blog. TSA has addressed many of the concerns about the images. And by June 1st 2013, airport should be using the Rapid Scans.
Paul Buaas - April 2, 2013 at 5:33 am |