Backscatters Cause Conflicts in Airports

Six years ago, after the attacks of 9/11 Americans were willing to do almost anything to insure the safety of our airports. Now TSA (the Transportation Security Administration) asks you for a new adjustment; nude x-ray metal detectors. Are you ready to bare it all for the average man or woman working at your local airport?

The application of this new x-ray technology, known as Backscatters, to airport screening uses high energy x-rays that are more likely to scatter than penetrate materials as compared to lower-energy x-rays used in medical applications. Although this type of x-ray is said to be harmless, it can move through other materials, such as clothing.

The Backscatter will be able to detect non-metallic devices and objects, as well as weapons or other harmful objects that a passenger may be carrying on his or her person, claims TSA.

The method used by Backscatter is to show a generic nude picture of the traveler, but not defining any of their facial or identifiable features, as an alternative to the physical pat down procedures to make sure airport security catches things that wouldn’t show up in metal detectors.

Even though Backscatter photos will be viewed by screeners at a remote location and photos will not be saved or printed anywhere, travelers still complain that this may be an invasion of privacy.

Whether it is an invasion of privacy or not, it will coming to airports across the nation soon, seeing as it is already in place in major cities. Six years ago America was willing to do anything to protect national safety in airports. Is there still that feeling today?