Jazmin Li
Airport body scanners have been a topic of debate for many years. With the ability to detect objects on or inside a person's body, these scanners have raised concerns about privacy and health risks. While they don't produce images of individuals naked, they can detect non-metal objects and identify if someone is hiding something underneath their clothing. The use of these scanners varies across countries, with some facing public outrage and lawsuits due to privacy concerns. This introduction aims to address the question, How much can airport body scanners see? and explore the implications of their use in ensuring air travel safety.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Security screening to detect objects on or inside a person's body |
| Type of Technology | Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), Millimeter wave scanners, Backscatter X-ray scanners, Whole Body Imaging (WBI) |
| What They Can See | Metallic and non-metallic objects, Weapons, Anomalies based on gender anatomy |
| Privacy Concerns | Older machines showed naked images of passengers, Newer machines use avatars and generic body outlines to ensure privacy |
| Health Concerns | Radiation exposure, particularly with X-ray backscatter machines |
| Alternative Screening | Pat-down searches, recommended for pregnant women, babies, children, and people with disabilities |
| Opt-Out Options | Passengers can opt for a pat-down search instead of walking through the scanner |
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What You'll Learn
Body scanners can detect metallic and non-metallic objects
Body scanners are used at airports to detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes, without physically removing clothes or making physical contact. They are designed to detect both metallic and non-metallic items, including weapons, that may pose a threat. This became an increasing concern after various airliner bombing attempts in the 2000s.
There are different types of body scanners used at airports, including millimeter-wave scanners, backscatter X-ray scanners, and passive infra-red scanners. Millimeter-wave scanners use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation in the extremely high-frequency radio band, which is a lower frequency than visible light. These scanners do not generate ionizing radiation, but the health risks posed by them are still being studied, and the evidence is mixed. Millimeter-wave scanners show a generic body outline and highlight potential threats.
Backscatter X-ray scanners use low doses of radiation to detect metallic and non-metallic objects hidden under clothing, in shoes, or in body cavities. There have been concerns about the safety of these scanners, and multiple countries have banned their usage.
Passive infra-red scanners detect metallic and non-metallic "threat objects" by collecting and analyzing natural heat radiation given off by the human body. No external radiation source is used, and privacy is preserved as no body details are revealed.
It is important to note that body scanners do not show detailed images of a person's naked body. Older machines may have displayed such images, but newer scanners use avatars or generic body outlines to ensure privacy.
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They can identify objects hidden under clothing
Airport body scanners are designed to detect objects on or inside a person's body, without the need to physically remove clothing or make physical contact. They can identify metallic and non-metallic items, including weapons, explosives, and drugs, that are hidden under clothing or in body cavities.
The technology used in body scanners varies. Some machines use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) or millimeter wave scanners, which send millimeter waves toward a passenger's body. These waves pass through clothing and reflect off the skin and any concealed objects, creating an image that the machine interprets. Millimeter wave scanners do not generate ionizing radiation, but the health risks of these machines are still being studied. Other machines use backscatter X-ray technology, which emits low doses of radiation to detect objects under clothing or in shoes and body cavities. These machines have raised health concerns, and older versions were removed from airports in 2013 due to privacy issues, as they revealed naked images of passengers.
Today, privacy protections are in place, and instead of showing a passenger's unique image, the scanners generate generic images of a body with boxes indicating areas of interest. This helps preserve anonymity and ensures that officers only see a person's image if further inspection is required.
While body scanners can detect objects under clothing, they do have limitations. For example, they may not adequately screen items hidden under loose clothing, turbans, or prosthetics, requiring additional manual screening. Additionally, certain items, such as sweat, cysts, or skin lesions, can sometimes trigger false alarms.
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Scanners can detect objects inside body cavities
Airport body scanners use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) for full-body scans at airport checkpoints. They use millimeter wave scanners that detect a wide range of metallic and non-metallic objects in a matter of seconds. The machines send millimeter waves towards a passenger's insides, through their clothing, and the waves reflect off the passenger's skin and whatever else is concealed. The waves then bounce back an image, which is interpreted by the machine.
Some scanners can detect swallowed items or items hidden in body cavities. However, millimeter waves do not penetrate the skin, so they cannot see anything inside the body, including body cavities. They also do not pick up size, weight, or height, and today's machines do not see nipples or genitalia. They are designed to generate generic images of a body instead of the passenger's unique image. If there is no alarm, officers do not see anything at all, simply a screen reading "OK".
If the machine detects something, it will show a yellow box on the avatar on screen, indicating that there may be something there. This will prompt a pat-down search. The process can become complicated for transgender individuals, as the machines scan by gender and detect anything that may be out of the range of the body's regular contour. For example, if a transgender man still has breasts, the machine will detect this as an anomaly and a box will show up on the chest.
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They do not produce naked images of passengers
Airport body scanners are used to detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes, without physically removing clothes or making physical contact. They can detect non-metal objects, as well as items swallowed or hidden in body cavities.
While older machines did produce naked images of passengers, today's millimeter wave machines do not. They do not show nipples or genitalia, nor do they pick up size, weight, or height. Instead, they generate generic images of a body, with a box representing any areas that require further inspection. According to the TSA, if there is no alarm, officers don't see anything at all—simply a screen reading "OK".
The use of backscatter X-ray machines, which could produce naked images, was controversial. These machines were phased out of airports by 2013 due to privacy and health concerns. The TSA implemented some safeguards for passenger privacy with these machines, such as having the officer at the checkpoint be different from the one who viewed the scan.
Today, millimeter wave machines are commonly used, which use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation similar to that used by wireless data transmitters. These machines do not generate ionizing radiation, which has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms. Instead, the waves bounce off the body and back to the machine, creating an image that is interpreted by the machine.
While millimeter wave machines do not produce naked images, they can detect anomalies based on the typical anatomy of either gender. For example, if a person who appears male still has breasts, a box will show up on the chest area, indicating a potential area of concern. This can lead to additional pat-downs, which can be invasive for transgender individuals.
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Scanners use non-ionizing radiation to detect threats
Millimeter wave scanners, which are one of the three main types of body scanners, use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation to scan individuals. This technology is similar to that used by wireless data transmitters and operates in the extremely high-frequency radio band, which is a lower frequency than visible light. The waves are directed at a passenger's insides, passing through clothing and reflecting off the skin and other concealed objects to create an image interpreted by the machine. These scanners do not generate ionizing radiation, though the health risks posed by the low levels of non-ionizing radiation emitted are still being studied, and evidence is mixed.
Passive infrared scanners are another technology that does not use an external radiation source. Instead, they collect and analyze the natural heat radiation emitted by the human body to detect metallic and non-metallic threat objects. This technology is currently being trialed at London rail stations.
X-ray backscatter scanners, which were previously used in airports, utilize ionizing radiation. Due to privacy and health concerns, these machines were removed from airports in 2013. The European Commission has recommended that alternate screening methods be used for pregnant women, babies, children, and people with disabilities.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the full-body scanner does not produce images of an individual naked. Today’s millimeter wave machines don't see nipples or genitalia, and they do not pick up size, weight or height.
Airport body scanners alert the TSO to threats, mainly weapons, or items in violation of the TSA carry-on rules that people may be trying to sneak onto planes.
No, you don't have to. You can ask for a pat-down search instead.
If something sets off the full-body scanner, the screen will light up and pinpoint the area on your body where the trigger is coming from. You will then be subjected to a pat-down search.
No, millimeter wave scanners do not penetrate your skin. They are not X-ray machines so they cannot see your bones, organs, or anything inside your body.
