TSA Ready to Implement Full Body Scanning at Airports

Robert Longley, who keeps About.com readers up-to-date on U.S. government moves, writes today that the Transportation Security Authority may be about to go all the way with whole body scanning:

In the 1990 sci-fi adventure movie "Total Recall," Mars-bound spaceport passengers walked through a security device that clearly displayed their bodies underneath their clothing. In 1990 that was nice science fiction special effect. By the end of 2008, you might be required to walk past just such a device and "bare it all" as the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) continues to expand its deployment of whole body scanning devices.

Employing either millimeter wave or backscatter technology, the whole body scanners allow TSA to detect weapons, explosives and other threatening items hidden beneath clothing or inserted into body cavities without the need for pat-down or strip-searches

The TSA has been moving toward full body scans for some time now. Their efficacy remains unknown, but privacy rights advocates have been concerned about the records they leave behind, despite TSA's assurances. As Robert reports, however, passengers will not be obligated to choose the new technology if they have concerns, and can request a "full body pat down," for weapons or other contraband, instead.