Contrary to promises from the TSA that backscatter X-ray scanned images could not be saved or transmitted electronically, it appears that over 35,000 images were indeed saved – at a single Orlando Florida court house location, and who knows where else. This news arrives on the heels of DHS Director Napolitano’s statement that these scanners are intended for deployment at all major airports in the United States.
Privacy advocates are upset by this and other disclosures that have been trickling out about the capacity of the equipment and procedures for its use. EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) has filed a lawsuit against the DHS to stop the program in its tracks. The TSA defends itself and assures that the image recording functions are turned off when the body scanners are delivered to airports.
For the prudes amongst us, all this just fuels our fears of exposure. We were looking for administrative transparency, not clothing transparency. We want to have faith in the system and its leaders. The notion of the system having an electronic ’private parts’ mask to protect privacy, makes stuffing a jock strap with explosives a no brainer, for a would be terrorist. Speaking for myself, if I were more confident that the system as a whole were really working, then I might willingly submit to a body scan. Having to choose real safety over momentary self consciousness, I would grudgingly choose the former. The only problem is that I am not yet convinced as to the safety part.
