Airport Body Scanners: Revealing More Than We Think?

Airport body scanners are a highly debated topic, with some arguing that they are an invasion of privacy and others deeming them necessary for security reasons. These scanners, which include backscatter X-ray and millimetre wave technologies, can reveal detailed images of the human body, including private body parts, albeit obscured. The level of detail depends on the type of scanner, with some displaying a generic outline of the body and others showing a more explicit image. While the use of these scanners has sparked controversy, particularly regarding health and privacy concerns, they are still widely used in airports around the world as a means of detecting potential security threats.

Privacy concerns

In the UK, the Equality and Human Rights Commission argued in 2010 that full-body scanners were a risk to human rights and might be breaking the law. That same year, 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, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has stated that the machines do not store images of passengers at airports. However, the TSA later disclosed that its procurement of airport scanners requires manufacturers to include image storage and transmission features, but that these features should be disabled before being placed in an airport. The TSA also allows passengers to opt out of the scan and choose a traditional pat-down instead.

In Europe, the European Union currently allows member states to decide whether to implement full-body scanners, but has implemented EU-wide standards on detection capability and safeguards to ensure compliance with health and fundamental rights provisions. The UK Department for Transport has decided that any passenger refusing to pass through the body scanner will not be allowed to fly.

To address privacy concerns, some airports have implemented privacy protections, such as ensuring that the monitor is only visible to the security screener and using generic or cartoon-like representations of the human body instead of actual images.

Health risks

There are two types of full-body scanners used in airports: millimeter-wave scanners and x-ray backscatter scanners. While both types of scanners have been deemed safe for all passengers, including children, adults, and pregnant women, there have been concerns raised about the potential health risks associated with the scanners, particularly the x-ray backscatter scanners.

X-ray backscatter scanners utilize very low doses of ionizing radiation, similar to those used in medical imaging. This type of radiation has the potential to cause biological damage, with the potential for permanent cell changes, cancer, and other abnormalities at moderate to high doses. However, the doses emitted by the scanners are extremely low, and the risk of harm is considered trivial by authorities such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US.

In response to concerns about radiation exposure, some doctors and scientists have called for independent reviews of the body scanners. They argue that there is a lack of rigorous hard data to support the safety of the scanners, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Some experts suggest that there may be a very small increased cancer risk associated with the scanners, but the overall risk is still very low.

As a result of these concerns, backscatter x-ray scanners have been banned in Europe and replaced with millimeter-wave scanners in US airports. Millimeter-wave scanners use non-ionizing radiation, which is lower energy and does not have enough power to damage cells. This type of radiation is commonly used in other technologies such as mobile phones and kitchen appliances, and authorities such as Health Canada and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed its safety.

While there may be some theoretical concerns about the potential health risks of airport body scanners, particularly the x-ray backscatter scanners, the risk of harm is generally considered very low. Passengers who are concerned about radiation exposure can opt for a pat-down search instead of passing through the scanners.

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of airport body scanners is a highly debated topic. While some argue that they are essential for security and detect items that threaten security, others argue that they are an invasion of privacy and are ineffective.

Airport body scanners can detect items such as coins in a pocket, trouser studs, metal or ceramic knives, guns, explosives, and drugs. They can also detect items hidden in body cavities, such as drugs. The scanners produce a 360-degree digital image of the body in just six seconds.

The two main types of body scanners are millimeter wave scanners and backscatter X-ray scanners. The former uses high-frequency radio waves to create an image of the body, while the latter uses low-dose radiation to generate a computerized image. Both types of scanners have been criticised for their use of radiation, with some arguing that the long-term health effects of exposure are unknown and that there is minimal proof that they actually prevent terrorist attacks.

The effectiveness of body scanners in detecting weapons and explosives has also been questioned. While they have been credited with detecting knives, drugs, and guns, some argue that metal detectors would have likely picked up these items as well. Additionally, the high false-positive rate of millimeter wave body scanners has been cited as a concern, with one report mentioning a 54% false-positive rate in Germany due to the machine picking up sweat as a potential cause for concern.

Despite the debate surrounding their effectiveness, body scanners continue to be widely used in airports around the world, with proponents arguing that they are crucial for security and that the privacy and health concerns are minimal.

Safety

The safety of airport body scanners has been a topic of debate and discussion for many years. While some argue that the technology is safe, others have raised concerns about potential health risks associated with the use of ionizing radiation.

Types of Body Scanners

There are two main types of body scanners used in airports: backscatter x-ray scanners and millimeter wave scanners. Backscatter x-ray scanners use low doses of ionizing radiation to generate an image of the body, while millimeter wave scanners use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation in the form of high-frequency radio waves.

Health Risks

The health risks associated with airport body scanners are a subject of ongoing debate. On the one hand, some experts argue that the low doses of radiation used in backscatter x-ray scanners are safe and equivalent to the natural background emission a passenger receives during ten minutes of flight. Additionally, millimeter wave scanners do not use ionizing radiation, and the radiation they emit is in the microwave range, which is generally considered safe.

On the other hand, some physicians and radiological researchers have expressed concerns about the use of ionizing radiation in backscatter x-ray scanners, arguing that humans should not be exposed to this type of radiation without clear medical benefit. There have also been concerns about the potential risks of frequent exposure to millimeter wave radiation, although no long-term studies have been conducted.

Privacy Concerns

In addition to health and safety concerns, airport body scanners have also sparked controversy over privacy issues. The scanners create detailed images of passengers' bodies, revealing private body parts and personal medical information such as prosthetics, colostomy bags, and catheters. This has led to objections from passengers and advocates, who argue that the imaging amounts to a virtual strip search without probable cause and violates basic human rights and privacy.

Regulatory Responses

In response to these concerns, regulatory bodies and airport authorities have implemented several measures to balance security needs with privacy and safety. For example, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States has transitioned to millimeter wave scanners, which do not use ionizing radiation. These scanners use generic mannequin-like figures to display potential threats, protecting passengers' privacy. Additionally, passengers are allowed to opt out of the scan and request a traditional pat-down instead.

In Europe, the European Union banned the use of backscatter x-ray scanners in 2011 due to health and safety concerns, and some countries have also adopted millimeter wave scanners as a safer alternative.

Effectiveness

While body scanners have been implemented as a security measure to detect potential threats, their effectiveness has been questioned. There has not been a single report of aviation terrorism thwarted by advanced imaging technology (AIT). In addition, the high false-positive rates of millimeter wave body scanners have been noted, with sweat and other harmless substances sometimes flagged as potential causes for concern.

Recommendations

Given the ongoing debates and uncertainties surrounding the safety and effectiveness of airport body scanners, some individuals, including medical professionals, choose to opt out of the scans whenever possible. Until there is conclusive evidence that the machines are either effective in preventing terror attacks or 100% safe with long-term exposure, it is advisable for passengers to be aware of their options and make an informed choice based on their personal comfort level.

Image storage

Airport body scanners have the capacity to store and export scanned images. However, the TSA has made it impossible for scanners deployed in airports to save or export images. Despite these assurances, there have been reports of tens of thousands of scanner images that were improperly saved and disseminated, raising concerns about the privacy of passengers.

The TSA has implemented several measures to address privacy concerns. They have introduced technology that blurs the images of the face, installed software to make the images less provocative, and separated the security personnel who view the images from the passengers, so that the screeners never see the passengers directly.

In addition, the TSA has ended its contract with Rapiscan, the maker of the X-ray, or backscatter scanner, which produced detailed and revealing body images. The remaining scanners in use produce a generic outline instead of a naked image. These scanners use millimeter-wave technology, which creates a 3D image that highlights any concealed items or abnormal shapes. The images produced are designed to be generic and do not show explicit details of a person's body.

While the TSA has taken steps to ensure the privacy of passengers, there are still concerns about the potential for employees to alter the settings of the machines on-site, removing the safeguards put in place.

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