Airport Body Scanners: Revealing More Than You Think

Airport body scanners have been a standard security measure since the 2000s, when a Nigerian man attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. The scanners use one of two technologies: backscatter X-ray and millimetre wave. Both can detect objects on or inside a person's body, including non-metal objects, without physical contact. They do not show detailed images of the naked body, but rather a generic human form with a box indicating the area of concern. While the scanners have been criticised for privacy and health reasons, the images are less revealing than those created by earlier machines, and the radiation exposure is minimal.

Body scanners do not show naked bodies

Airport body scanners are used to detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes. They use a technology called Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) for full-body scans at airport checkpoints. While the machines send millimeter waves toward a passenger's insides, they do not produce images of individuals without clothing. Instead, they provide a nondescript avatar image of the human anatomy, ensuring privacy for all passengers.

The body scanners create a generic human form, resembling a gingerbread man or paper doll, to maintain security effectiveness while protecting passenger privacy. This outline includes a box representing the area where the scanner detected something, and it is accompanied by a green "clear" or red "stop and check" signal. If the machine detects an item in a passenger's pocket, for example, it will indicate this with an alarm note in the paper doll's groin region to guide the officer in their search.

The use of body scanners has raised concerns about privacy and health risks. In 2013, machines that revealed naked images of passengers were removed from airports due to these concerns. Today's millimeter wave machines do not display nipples or genitalia, nor do they capture size, weight, or height. They are designed to generate generic body images and only alert officers to potential threats, such as weapons or items in violation of carry-on rules.

While body scanners do not show naked bodies, they have faced criticism for being too invasive and ineffective. Some travelers prefer a physical body search or opt-out of the body scan due to health or privacy concerns. However, refusing a body scan in certain countries may result in being banned from flying.

Scanners use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation

The energy emitted by millimeter-wave scanners is extremely low, comparable to the energy emitted by cell phones. When you step into the machine, you place your feet on the footprints and put your arms over your head. The machine then sends millimeter waves toward your body, which pass through your clothing and reflect off your skin. If the electromagnetic waves hit something suspicious, a Transportation Security Officer (TSO) will investigate further. Otherwise, you can pass through the security checkpoint without a pat-down or other physical contact.

In the past, backscatter X-ray scanners were used, which emitted low levels of ionizing radiation. These were phased out in many countries, including the United States, due to privacy and health concerns. Modern scanners now use a generic outline of a body with a box representing the area where the scanner detected something. This outline is used to ensure passenger privacy while maintaining security effectiveness.

While the health risks of millimeter-wave scanners are still being studied, the evidence suggests that the radiation exposure is insignificant and not harmful to human health. According to the British Institute of Radiology and the Royal College of Radiologists, the dose from an airport scan is 100,000 times lower than the average annual dose of natural background radiation. Additionally, the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) ensures that all X-ray systems and radiation-emitting equipment are built to use radiation safely and are correctly calibrated and maintained.

Scanners cannot see inside the body

Shawna Malvini Redden, PhD, and author of 101 Pat-Downs, explains that "the waves go through clothing and reflect off the passenger's skin (and whatever else is concealed) and bounce back an image, which is interpreted by the machine." This technology is known as Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) and is used for full-body scans at airport checkpoints. It is important to note that AIT scanners are safe and emit much less energy than is permitted by standard cellphones.

While these scanners can detect objects on or inside a person's body, they do not produce detailed images of the body's interior. They are designed to ensure passenger privacy while maintaining security. The images generated are generic human forms, with outlines of the body and boxes indicating areas of concern. These images do not reveal personal body details, such as nipples or genitalia, and do not display a person's unique characteristics, such as size, weight, or height.

In addition, full-body scanners cannot detect all types of threats. For example, they may not adequately screen for security threats hidden under loose clothing, turbans, or prosthetics. This limitation often requires additional screening methods, such as physical inspections, for certain individuals. Furthermore, there are ongoing concerns about the potential health risks associated with full-body scanners, particularly those that use X-ray backscatter technology. While millimeter wave scanners are considered safer, the health effects of all full-body scanning technologies are still being studied, and the evidence is mixed.

Scanners use generic human forms to ensure privacy

Airport body scanners are designed to detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes, without physically removing clothes or making physical contact. They are looking for items that could be potential threats and are not looking at your physical body.

In the past, early versions of the scanners did not have privacy protections, and TSOs could view naked images of passengers as they went through the screening. However, today's millimeter wave machines do not show nipples or genitalia, and they do not pick up size, weight, or height. Instead, they generate generic images of a body, with a box representing the area where the scanner picked up something. This generic human form, which looks like a gingerbread man or a paper doll, is used to ensure passenger privacy.

If the scanner detects something, the screen will light up and pinpoint the area on the body where the trigger is coming from. For example, if someone has something in their pockets, the machine will put an alarm note in the paper doll's groin region so the officer knows where to search. Passengers can also see everything that the TSOs see on the screen, and nothing will be hidden from their view.

While body scanners are designed to ensure privacy, some people may still have concerns about the level of detail they reveal. In the United States, there have been complaints about the invasiveness of the new TSA pat-downs that are conducted when passengers opt out of the body scan. Additionally, there are health concerns related to the use of full-body scanning technology, particularly X-ray scanners, which use ionizing radiation.

Scanners are considered invasive by some

Airport body scanners have been criticised for being too invasive. In 2010, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea opposed the use of full-body scanners and recommended that they not be deployed at airports. In the United States, there have been similar objections, with some arguing that full-body scanners and the new TSA pat-downs are unconstitutional.

The early versions of the scanners did not have privacy protections in place, and TSA officers could view naked images of passengers as they went through the screening. This has led to concerns about privacy and health, resulting in the removal of these machines from all airports in 2013. While the current millimeter wave machines generate generic images of a body, some critics argue that using a full-body scanner is equivalent to a strip search and violates basic human rights.

Health concerns have also been raised regarding the use of full-body scanning technology, particularly with X-ray scanners. While the risks are considered trivial, there are still concerns about the radiation emitted by the scans and the potential for increased exposure to ionizing radiation during air travel. Additionally, the efficacy of the scanners has been questioned, with some arguing that they are not effective enough to justify their use.

To address privacy concerns, current millimeter wave machines use privacy software that displays a nondescript avatar image of the human anatomy. These images are designed to ensure passenger privacy while still allowing for effective security screening. The machines generate a generic outline of a body with a box representing the area where the scanner detected an item. This way, officers only see a green 'clear' or red 'stop and check' signal, and passengers can view the same information on the screen.

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