full body scanner

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One US City Will Now Scan Its Subway Commuters

Devices in LA Metro will 'quickly and unobtrusively screen individuals for concealed threats'

(Newser) - All humans emit body waves, but if they're concealing an object under their clothes, that object blocks the waves—exactly what the Transportation Security Administration is banking on with the installation of the country's first body scanners in a transit agency. The subway system getting the first crack...

TSA Can Now Make You Go Through a Body Scanner

Your absolute ability to decline was wiped away on Dec. 18

(Newser) - A single sentence in a seven-page "Privacy Impact Assessment Update" published Friday by the Department of Homeland Security has wiped away the ability to have the absolute right to opt out of passing through an airport body scanner. The key line: "While passengers may generally decline [Advanced Imaging...

TSA Removes X-Ray Scanners at Busy Airports
 TSA Removes X-Ray 
 Scanners at Busy Airports 
propublica

TSA Removes X-Ray Scanners at Busy Airports

Because of speed, not privacy or health worries

(Newser) - Those often reviled body scanners at airports should pose less of a burden to travelers—unless they happen to frequent small airports. Over the past few weeks, officials have "quietly" removed the X-ray machines from major airports including Boston's Logan and Chicago's O'Hare, shipped them off...

Supreme Court Refuses Body Scanner Case
 Supreme Court 
 Refuses Body 
 Scanner Case 
NEW SESSION's HIGHLIGHTS

Supreme Court Refuses Body Scanner Case

A rundown of cases the court refused to hear as new session open

(Newser) - The new Supreme Court term, which begins today, won't include a review of TSA body scanners: Justices have refused to take on a man's appeal in a case against the machines, which was also dismissed by federal courts in Florida and Washington, the AP reports. Nor will justices...

TSA Defying Nude Scanner Court Order

Agency was supposed to hold hearings last year

(Newser) - The Transportation Security Administration was ordered a full year ago to "promptly" hold public hearings about its controversial use of full-body scanners, but there has been zilch from the agency so far. A federal appeals court has now ordered the agency to explain its lack of action, and to...

Airport Scanner Breaks Teen's Insulin Pump

She was told to get scanned despite note from doctor

(Newser) - TSA agents forced a Denver teen to go to through a full-body scanner, which broke her $10,000 insulin pump, according to the girl. Savannah Barry, 16, says she approached agents with a letter from her doctor, and told them about the pump, but she was told to go through...

Rand Paul's TSA Scuffle Now Raking in Cash for Dad

Ron Paul urges supporters to contribute to 'End the TSA Money Bomb'

(Newser) - Rand Paul's "detainment" by the TSA couldn't have been timed better: Dad Ron is now using Monday's incident to raise funds for his presidential campaign, the Daily Caller reports. The elder Paul emailed supporters asking them to contribute to his "End the TSA Money...

Rand Paul Refuses TSA Patdown, Gets Detained

Ron Paul's son being detained 'indefinitely,' says spokesperson

(Newser) - Apparently the Pauls are willing to go quite far to maintain their libertarian principles: Rand Paul, son of presidential candidate Ron Paul, was detained by the TSA at Nashville International Airport this morning when he refused to submit to a patdown, WSMV reports. A Paul spokesperson confirms that the Kentucky...

Alaska Lawmaker Takes On TSA Over Airport Scanners

State rep runs ad telling people they can opt out

(Newser) - A state lawmaker in Alaska really doesn't like the TSA's airport body scanners. Democrat Chris Tuck is running ads on local TV reminding Alaskans that they, like everyone else, have the right to turn down the scans and get a patdown instead, reports the Anchorage Daily News . "...

Senator: Put Bigger Health Warnings by Airport Scanners

Susan Collins wants more study into radiation concerns: ProPublica

(Newser) - Maine Senator Susan Collins wants the TSA to put more prominent health warnings near those big full-body scanners at airports, reports ProPublica . What she really wants is for the agency to conduct an independent study on the potential dangers posed by radiation, but because the TSA is balking, she'll...

Europe Airports Ban US-Style Body Scanners

Radiation concerns prompt decision on X-ray devices

(Newser) - The full-body airport scanners that have prompted controversy on these shores have now been banned throughout the European Union, reports ProPublica . The fracas in the US has largely been over privacy , but the EU’s decision was a matter of “health and safety,” it says. The X-ray scanners...

TSA Scanner Images: Now, Less Naked

Technology replaces naked image with generic one

(Newser) - After six months of testing, the TSA has finally unveiled software to make us look a little less naked to its airport scanners. The software, which works on the millimeter wave machines installed at 41 airports, replaces the blurry image of a passenger’s actual body with a generic gray...

Airport Boots Doctor for Refusing 'Radiation Assault'

No scan, no flight, says British airport

(Newser) - An eye specialist on his way to treat child patients in Switzerland was escorted out of Britain's Manchester airport by police after refusing a full-body scan. Tony Aguirre declined the scan on both medical and ethical grounds, calling the technology a "radiation assault," reports the Daily Mail...

TSA to Texas: Ban Patdowns, and We'll Ban Flights

Justice Department sends threatening letter

(Newser) - The Justice Department has sent a letter to Texas, warning that there will be dire consequences if it passes a law classifying airport patdowns as sexual harassment. The Texas House has unanimously passed the bill, and if it becomes law, “the TSA would likely be required to cancel any...

Rodents: The New Airport Bomb Sniffers

In Israel, mice being trained to detect explosives, drugs

(Newser) - Which would you rather be exposed to: those pesky new “naked” airport scanners , or … rodents? In Israel, mice are being trained to sniff out bombs and drugs, in a system researchers say will be more accurate than pat-downs, x-rays, or sniffer dogs. The mice would be hidden in...

TSA Tests 'Less-Naked' Body Scanner

Instead of showing every curve, new software uses a generic outline

(Newser) - Michele Bachmann may not have to worry about "naked pictures" of herself winding up on the Internet anymore—or, at least not clearly defined ones. The TSA yesterday began testing a more modest full-body scanner at three airports. The system uses the same machines, but new software, which ditches...

Jesse Ventura Sues Over Body Scans

Ex-governor argues they constitute unreasonable search and seizure

(Newser) - Jesse Ventura doesn’t want the TSA getting too intimate with “the Body.” The wrestler-turned-governor-turned-conspiracy-peddler has filed a lawsuit complaining that the full-body scanners and pat-downs passengers are subjected to at airports constitute unreasonable search and seizure, the AP reports. The searches are “warrantless and suspicionless,”...

Nobody's Checking to Ensure TSA Scanners Are Safe
Nobody's Checking to Ensure TSA Scanners Are Safe
NEW REPORT

Nobody's Checking to Ensure TSA Scanners Are Safe

No group in charge of regular investigations

(Newser) - The TSA claims its scanners are safe when they’re working right—but who’s making sure they’re working right? The agency lists a number of watchdogs, including the FDA, the US Army, and Johns Hopkins scientists. But these groups say they’re not responsible for the scanners, AOL...

Sen. Schumer: Distribute Airport Body Scans, Go to Jail

He introduces a bill that targets misuse of images

(Newser) - Sen. Charles Schumer introduced a bill yesterday that would make it illegal for anyone to record or distribute airport body scan images. Those found guilty would face penalties of up to a year in prison, fines of up to $100,000, or both, reports the AP . The TSA has said...

Pistole: No Body Cavity Searches on My Watch

Nation can breathe a sigh of relief on that point, at least

(Newser) - Concerned that body cavity searches are the inevitable next frontier in the TSA's war against terrorism? Don't be—at least not as long as John Pistole is around. USA Today had a long chat with the TSA chief and he revealed that, though current technology can't detect explosives hidden inside...

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