"Airport Security Screeners Too Revealing?"

Tuesday, December 7, 2004

Airport Security Screeners Too Revealing?
by Jennifer Brice
WJXX-TV Ch 25 (ABC), Jacksonville (FL)


JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Ask most travelers why they are padded down, wanded with
metal detectors, even prodded in very personal places at airports security
checkpoints? Folks like Dorothy Knoff will tell you it's a post 9/11 world.
"If they have to do their job, they have to do their job."

Despite high security, people are still trying to sneak any weapon
imaginable onto airplanes says The Jacksonville International Airport's
Director for the Transportation Security Administration, Paul Hackenberry.
"You see guns, knives, and scissors. All kinds of things."

That's why the TSA is constantly developing new screening devices. Devices
like what's called a "Sniffer". It smells your clothes for tiny traces of
explosives. But none is as controversial as the "Backscatter X-Ray" says
Hackenberry. "The process actually allowed the screener to see through your
clothing and see hidden objects on your body."

Orlando International Airport recently tested the controversial x-ray
machine, but pulled it because of privacy issues. It's so detailed travelers
like Stephanie Toblers say it's too much. "I wouldn't like it. That's just
like they're looking at you naked in your bathroom."

Many privacy groups say the Backscatter is too invasive. Traveler Dan King
says there has to be an alternative. "There should be a way to do it by just
showing the type of objects without showing your whole body outline."

That is what the TSA is hoping. The machine has caught so much flack it's
going back to the drawing board. The TSA is trying to fine tune the X-ray
image so a passengers body would be converted to a generic mannequin's body,
so it's not as detailed.


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