Biometrics and Whole Body Imaging in Airports

I’m amazed to see recent news stories in relation to the introduction of the “whole body imaging” systems in airports across the United States. Implementation will be provided by the TSA (Transport Security Administration) and of course with the blessing of the US Department of Homeland Security.

Have you seen the images produced by this equipment? They leave very little to the imagination.

And how is this justified? Yet again references are made to 9/11 and protecting citizens etc. The usual ‘sheep’ show up in blogs, saying that if you disagree with any new ‘rules’, you must be a terrorist. What a load of crap! All I have to say to those ‘patriots ‘ is “why not go the whole hog and embed an RFID chip in your head and wander around naked in order to save on the costs of the scanning machines?In these troubled economic times it would make sense.

Citizens or Sheep?

 This level of control over citizens would not happen in fascist regimes. Hopefully, those American citizens with a backbone, will refuse to take part in this ‘security feature’.

9/11 was a terrible, destructive event and had far reaching effects for everyone (not just in the US). New regulations and restrictions were imposed worldwide, making air travel more time-consuming and few complained, as we realised that it was a preventative measure against future attacks by terrorists etc.

This recent turn of events is something more, and impacts directly on an individual’s right to privacy. Currently the whole body imaging scan is not mandatory but the TSA plan to make it compulsory in the coming months.

Before I continue, I wish to make it clear that I am not a US citizen (from Ireland) and in fact, I have never travelled to the US. Pending regulations such as this one will not encourage me to do so. I’m told Canada is nicer… Is this true?

This link http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_tsa_wbi.pdf

Shows privacy assessment report carried out by the Department of Homeland Security and the only references that protect privacy are

1. The person performing the scan cannot see you . Who cares if this person can see you? Is this person medically qualified? Are all TSA personnel screened as diligently as the passengers will be? Hopefully the personnel involved will have a higher IQ than a squashed apricot and will not be drooling over the images produced.
2. No image data is retained after you have passed through it. I really believe that one, as the US intelligence agencies do not believe in gathering information across the globe…. Yeah! Right!

They’ve kind of missed the point a bit, I think; this machine generates a 3d graphical image of a person at skin level. You might as well be naked!

While the produced image does not have skin colour and they claim the facial features are blurred on the produced image it is still a 3D representation of your body and all outer appendages. Personally speaking, I’m only willing have this level of intimacy with my wife and in certain circumstances with a medical professional.

In any case ,if the software can blur facial features ,I’m sure the same software can reverse the process or is this too obvious?

I am certainly not comfortable with my wife and children passing through these scans and I can assure you they never will. My wife feels the same way, such exams (intrusive or not) are only carried out in a hospital/clinic.

How do I know that potential paedophiles are not scanning my child? Every section of society has its perverts and I’m sure the TSA is no exception.

Just how professional and trustworthy will the employees monitoring the imaging process be? Who can tell?

Has the TSA had any internal scandals in recent years? It seems that they have, and the links below shows just two such instances where professionalism is not the norm:

one from 2007 and from 2009

The only advantage that I can see is to use this technology for those with medical implants (would be an advantage to them and would prevent them having to produce X-rays).

Meanwhile, the world is watching, will future Americans wander naked through their country, with biometric chips embedded in various orifices?

It starts with airports,what will be next? I’m sure trains,government buildings etc will follow until eventually the commercial security firms also spread the technology to retail outlets and other commercial locations.

Will they protest now and prevent this obvious invasion of privacy from becoming the norm?.

Barack Obama is well respected internationally and is obviously an intelligent man; American citizens should take advantage of this, and object strenuously to this “not so covert” approach by security agencies to remove individual privacy rights.

If they don’t ,I’m sure the manufacturers of this imaging equipment will be looking to expand their sales globally, after being so successful in conquering the pliable American market.

These companies will  have future biometric surprises in store if this is approved.