Body Scanners: Airports With Full-Body Screening Protocols

Full-body scanners are devices that detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes, without physically removing clothes or making physical contact. They are commonly used in airports, prisons, jails, and other high-security areas to enhance security measures and identify potential security risks. The use of full-body scanners in airports has been a controversial topic, with some arguing that they are too invasive and violate basic human rights. Despite the controversy, full-body scanners are increasingly being used in airports around the world. In this article, we will discuss the airports that have implemented full-body scanners and the implications of their use.

Characteristics and Values of Airports with Full-Body Scanners

Full-body scanners in the US

Full-body scanners are devices that detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes, without physically removing clothes or making physical contact. They are commonly used in airports, prisons, jails, border crossings, and other high-security areas to enhance security measures and identify potential security risks. These scanners can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, including plastic weapons, explosive devices, drugs, and other prohibited items.

In the United States, there are 172 airports that have implemented full-body scanners at airport security. This includes major airports such as Phoenix's Sky Harbor and LA's LAX, where millimeter wave machines were first tested in 2006-2007. Millimeter wave scanners use non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation in the extremely high-frequency (EHF) radio band, which is a lower frequency than visible light. These scanners produce 3D images of the subject and do not emit ionizing radiation, ensuring the safety of the individuals being screened.

While some travelers appreciate the added security that full-body scanners provide, others have raised concerns about privacy and the invasiveness of the technology. Individuals who are uncomfortable with the idea of being scanned have the option to request a full-body pat down as an alternative. However, this option may also be considered invasive, as it involves physical contact with a TSA employee.

The use of full-body scanners in U.S. airports has also sparked debates about constitutionality and human rights. Some opponents argue that the scanners and new TSA pat-down procedures are too invasive and ineffective, violating basic human rights. Additionally, there have been concerns about the storage of scanned images by the government, with confirmed cases of image data being stored in real-time during the screening process.

Despite the concerns, full-body scanners are now widely used across U.S. airports, and travelers should expect to encounter them or opt for alternative screening methods such as pat-downs. These security measures are in place to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff, and individuals can make personal choices regarding their preferred screening method.

Full-body scanners in Canada

Full-body scanners have been in operation at major Canadian airports since 2013. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) accelerated their schedule for the purchase of new scanners in 2010, and 44 scanners were ordered to be deployed in eight airports across the country. As of 2013, 52 full-body scanners are in use in Canadian airports.

The scanners use millimetre-wave technology and do not emit x-rays. They project low-level radio frequency (RF) energy over and around the passenger's body to detect anomalies and concealed objects. The RF wave is then reflected back from the body, and signals are recovered using highly sensitive detectors. This process takes about five seconds. The millimetre-wave technology produces a 3D image of the subject, while still ensuring that the privacy of the passenger is respected and no personal information is collected.

Passengers selected for a secondary search can choose between the full-body scanner or a physical search. For the full-body scan, passengers enter the scanner, stand with their feet apart, and extend their arms over their heads. Once the process is complete, passengers exit on the opposite side of the scanner.

The use of full-body scanners in Canadian airports is in line with the global trend of enhancing security measures following incidents such as the one onboard Northwest Airlines flight 253 on Christmas Day in 2009.

Full-body scanners in the UK

Full-body scanners are commonly used in airports as part of the security screening process to detect concealed threats or prohibited items on passengers before boarding flights. The use of full-body scanners in UK airports has been criticised by civil liberties groups for breaching privacy rights. However, the UK government has continued to enforce the use of full-body scanners in airports, with passengers who refuse to comply being banned from flights.

In 2013, the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, announced that 11 more airports across Britain, including Stansted, Luton, and Liverpool, would be required to screen passengers with new-generation full-body scanners. These scanners were based on radio wave or millimetre wave technology, which carried no known health risks and did not produce images of passengers, thus addressing health and privacy concerns. The full-body scanners were fully deployed after the Christmas Day airline bomb plot in 2009 and the discovery of an experimental non-metallic explosive device in Yemen in 2012.

Prior to the introduction of full-body scanners at these 11 airports, initial trials were conducted at Manchester Airport in 2009, which proved controversial as they produced detailed, ghost-like images of the naked body. As a result, the transport secretary lifted the flying ban for passengers who refused to undergo full-body scanning, allowing them to undergo alternative private hand searches instead. However, this decision was later reversed, and passengers who opt out of full-body scans are now subject to a thorough hand search or may even be banned from their intended flight.

Full-body scanners have been in use in some UK airports since 2010, with major airports such as Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham implementing their use. The British Department of Transport continues to develop the Interim Code of Practice and will launch a full public consultation on the requirements relating to the use of scanners. It is likely that additional airports in the UK and Europe will implement full-body scans for travellers.

Full-body scanners in India

Full-body scanners are being introduced at airports in India to enhance security and reduce congestion. These scanners use millimetre wave technology to detect metallic and non-metallic objects, including explosives, hidden under clothing, inside body cavities, or in organs. The scanners do not use X-rays or ionising radiation, which makes them a safer alternative to traditional detection methods.

In 2019, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) directed the installation of full-body scanners at over 80 hyper-sensitive and sensitive airports in India within a year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and equipment import delays caused postponements, and the deadline was pushed back to December 31, 2023. Despite these delays, the Delhi International Airport (DIAL) conducted trials of full-body scanners in 2022, and by July of that year, it had installed one of these advanced scanners. The IGI Airport in Delhi, India's busiest airport, is expected to have body scanners by May 2024.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which operates over 130 airports in the country, has received clearance to install full-body scanners at four airports: Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Goa. These airports fall under the hypersensitive category, and the installation of these scanners is expected to reduce passenger frisking time by half. The AAI initially invited tenders for 198 body scanners but later withdrew the tender to implement the installations in phases.

The Mumbai airport, the country's second-largest, is also undertaking trials of full-body scanners. The Bangalore airport is also in the advanced stages of installing these machines. The introduction of full-body scanners at airports in India is a significant step towards enhancing security and improving the efficiency of passenger screening processes.

Privacy concerns with full-body scanners

Full-body scanners, also known as Advanced Imaging Technology systems, are devices that detect objects on or inside a person's body for security screening purposes. They were introduced at airports and train stations in many countries starting in 2007, supplementing metal detectors. There are two types of full-body scanners: backscatter technology units and millimeter-wave technology units. While both serve the same purpose of detecting concealed metallic and non-metallic threats, their radiation emissions vary.

Despite their effectiveness in enhancing security, full-body scanners have raised privacy concerns among travellers. One of the primary concerns is the level of detail revealed by these scanners, which some argue is equivalent to a strip search. The scanners create nude images of individuals, which are transmitted to a TSA agent seated away from the scanner. This has led to discomfort among travellers who value their privacy and do not wish to have their bodies seen without clothes by airport staff.

In addition to privacy concerns, full-body scanners have also sparked health worries due to their radiation emissions. Some scientists and experts, including David Brenner, director of Columbia University's Center for Radiological Research, have warned of potential cancer risks associated with the radiation emitted by these devices. There have been reports of TSA employees identifying cancer clusters allegedly linked to radiation exposure from operating body scanners. The safety of these scanners has been questioned, with organisations like EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center) filing lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security to disclose information about radiation risks.

The use of full-body scanners has faced opposition from groups such as the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, which recommended against their deployment at airports. Similarly, opponents in the US have argued that full-body scanners and the accompanying pat-downs are unconstitutional and invasive. The storage of scanned images by the government has also been a point of contention, with travellers expressing discomfort over the potential misuse of their personal data.

While full-body scanners aim to enhance security and protect travellers, addressing privacy and health concerns is essential. This can be achieved through the development of advanced technologies that balance security needs with individual privacy rights, ensuring that travellers feel safe and their privacy is respected during security screenings.

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