Not Exactly the Transparency in Government We Were Hoping For

[beamjockey]

After singlemaltsilk recently told me that millimeter-wave and X-ray backscatter scanners would soon be in use at Chicago's O'Hare Airport by the Transportation Security Administration, I went looking for more information.


Here is TSA's example of millimeter-wave imaging (with facial features deliberately blurred):

Here is TSA's example of x-ray backscatter imaging:


Here's a description of a backscatter system from one vendor (not necessarily the one deployed at O'Hare). Dose is said to be less than 10 microrems per scan. Americans average about one millirem per day from environmental and medical exposures.

Here's a paper that discusses the risks of squirting X-rays at random travelers, and piously states that the benefits must be balanced against the risks. But it is mighty vague about quantifying the benefits.

(Presumably millimeter RF is less hazardous than X-rays are.)

In the comments of this airport blog, Airline Biz, I found a brilliant suggestion.

Posted by fratermus @ 6:35 PM Fri, Jun 13, 2008

Want to get buy-in? Have each screener post the scans of their own bodies at the entrance to the checkpoint. "Hello. You are being scanned by Tim {pic here}".

If it's no biggie then why not post the scans of the screener (and, hey, the head off the TSA and FAA while we're at it).

If they get to look at us millimeter-nude, we should at least get to look at them millimeter-nude.

An even better idea: Don't use these machines to peer under the clothing of airline passengers, at all.

Comments

[ann-totusek.livejournal.com]

I see a potential income source here- RF reflective underwear. So what sort of stuff would have to be in the fabric so that it would be RF reflective but not set off the metal detectors?

[madtechie2718.livejournal.com]

Not sure - aluminised mylar may work - not enough aluminium to trigger a metal detector, but the mylar may absorb the RF unless you wear it shiny side out - but then, you would, wouldn't you??

Have no experience with millimetric stuff, but might be worth a bit of searching....

[madtechie2718.livejournal.com]

OK, before someone corrects me - I think the shiny side is the plastic side, so that oxidisation is prevented - you'd need to wear it dull side out...

??

[almeda.livejournal.com]

Alas, I can reassure you that mylar sets off airport metal detectors.

While I was working at O'Hare, I grabbed a souvenir shiny pen (cheap and available in-terminal) when my home-brought one quit working, and it lit up the entire checkpoint like a Christmas tree.