Airport Scanners: Can They See Through Your Clothes?

Airport security has become increasingly invasive, with full-body scanners raising concerns about travellers' security and privacy. These scanners use radio waves, backscatter X-rays, or millimetre wave technology to detect objects under layers of clothing. While older scanners produced detailed images of passengers' bodies, blurring faces, newer scanners use generic outlines to protect privacy. The use of scanners varies across airports, with some allowing travellers to opt for body searches instead. Despite concerns, scanners are deemed safe and effective in detecting threats.

Do airport scanners show your naked body?

Airport body scanners are designed to detect potential threats, such as weapons or explosives, and not to look at your physical body. They use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) and create a nondescript avatar image of the human anatomy, which looks like a gingerbread man or a paper doll. This generic outline cannot indicate gender or body type, ensuring passenger privacy.

The scanners use either backscatter or millimetre wave technology. Backscatter scanners use X-rays, a form of ionizing radiation that reflects off organic material, to produce an essentially nude photograph of the passenger. However, due to privacy and health concerns, these scanners were removed from all airports in 2013.

Millimetre wave scanners use electromagnetic waves to create an image. They send waves towards a passenger's insides, and the waves reflect off the skin and any concealed items, bouncing back an image to be interpreted by the machine. These scanners are considered safer than backscatter machines, and the images they produce are not as violating.

In the US, travellers can choose between scans and body searches, but in the UK, passengers must be scanned to fly. While airport scanners can detect metallic and non-metallic objects on the exterior of the body, they cannot see inside body cavities or diagnose diseases.

So, to answer the question, no, airport scanners do not show your naked body. They use technology to create a generic outline of the human body, and any items detected during the scan are indicated on this outline.

What do airport scanners see?

Airport scanners use two different kinds of technology: full-body scanners and baggage scanners. Full-body scanners, also known as millimetre wave scanners, create a moving image of the body beneath all clothes. They use millimetre wave technology to detect a wide range of metallic and non-metallic threats in a matter of seconds. The machines send millimetre waves towards a passenger's insides, and these waves go through clothing and reflect off the passenger's skin, bouncing back an image that is then interpreted by the machine.

The image produced is a nondescript avatar of the human anatomy, a generic outline that looks like a gingerbread man or paper doll. This is to ensure passenger privacy. The avatar is genderless and does not indicate body type, height, weight, or size. It does, however, show items that might be on the skin or inside clothing. If a threat is detected, the machine will put an alarm note on the avatar's groin region, for example, to indicate to the officer where to search. Passengers are able to see the viewing monitor throughout the process.

Backscatter X-rays are another type of full-body scanner, designed to show hidden objects beneath clothing or luggage. They can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, ranging from guns to foods and plastics. However, some airports no longer use backscatter scanners because they are considered a privacy invasion.

Baggage scanners, on the other hand, are explicit enough to pick up detailed images of your luggage contents. They rely on X-rays to see through the surface of your luggage and achieve detailed images of the items inside. Security officers can calculate how dense each object is, which gives them the information they need to spot contraband.

Are airport scanners safe?

Airport body scanners use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) to detect metallic and non-metallic threat items. They use non-ionizing radiation to scan travelers and ensure they are not carrying hidden items.

There are two types of full-body scanners: millimeter wave scanners and backscatter x-ray scanners. Millimeter wave scanners emit extremely low-energy waves and capture the reflected energy. The waves go through clothing and reflect off the passenger's skin and any concealed items, bouncing back an image to be interpreted by the machine. Millimeter wave scanners are considered safe, emitting far less energy than a cell phone.

Backscatter x-ray scanners, on the other hand, use ionizing radiation. The potential for ionizing radiation to cause damage depends on the dose. At low doses, radiation causes biological damage, but cells can repair this damage rapidly. At moderate doses, cells can be permanently changed, becoming cancerous or leading to abnormalities. At higher doses, serious health problems can arise as cells cannot be replaced quickly enough. The doses of ionizing radiation emitted by backscatter x-ray scans are very low, and the risk of health effects is considered very low. However, with 750 million passenger enplanements per year, even a small risk per person could potentially lead to a significant number of cancers.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has taken steps to address privacy concerns related to full-body scanners. They have implemented measures such as blurring faces, installing software to make images less provocative, and separating security personnel from passengers so that screeners never see passengers directly. Additionally, the TSA has made it impossible for scanners deployed in airports to save or export images.

While the risks associated with airport body scanners are considered trivial, some individuals may still have concerns about the radiation exposure, especially frequent flyers. The alternative to the full-body scan is a pat-down, which can be requested instead.

Can airport scanners see inside body cavities?

Airport body scanners use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) for full-body scans at airport checkpoints. They are millimetre wave scanners that detect a wide range of metallic and non-metallic threats in a matter of seconds.

The machines send millimetre waves towards a passenger's insides. These waves pass through clothing and reflect off the skin and other objects, bouncing back an image to be interpreted by the machine.

The body scanners do not show a naked body on screen. They provide a nondescript avatar image of the human anatomy, with a generic human form, to ensure passenger privacy. This image is used to indicate areas where further investigation may be required, for example, a red 'stop and check' signal.

The scanners cannot see inside body cavities. They do not detect items inside a passenger's body or penetrate the skin. They are designed to detect masses either on the body or hidden inside clothing.

What happens if something suspicious is found?

If something suspicious is found on a person during an airport body scan, a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) will investigate further. The TSO may perform a pat-down or other physical contact to determine if a threat is present. If the suspicious item is prohibited, it will be confiscated by the TSO and could result in further consequences for the passenger.

If something suspicious is found in a passenger's luggage, the X-ray baggage scanning system will emit an alert sound. Customs officers or airport security personnel will then review the images on the scanner screen, which will be highlighted with predefined colours to help quickly identify and handle prohibited items. If necessary, security personnel will manually inspect the luggage to determine if any suspicious substances are prohibited items.

In addition to body scans and luggage scans, passengers may be subject to other security measures, such as metal detectors or handheld metal detectors, to ensure that no prohibited items or threats are carried onto the plane. These measures are in place to maintain the safety and security of all passengers and staff.

It's important to note that the TSO's primary concern is the safety and security of everyone at the airport and onboard the aircraft. They will work diligently to resolve any issues that may arise during the screening process.

Frequently asked questions