TSA lies again about what the strip-search machines see
Already this week the TSA was caught in a lie about what it likes to call whole body imaging (virtual strip search) machines, when the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) obtained documents showing that, despite TSA claims that “this state-of-the-art technology cannot store, print, transmit or save the image,” the TSA actually requires all of these capabilities — image storage, printing, and transmission — as part of the contract specifications for the body scanners.
But the TSA can’t seem to keep their nose from growing: the post in their official propaganda blog responding to EPIC’s analysis of TSA documents contains even more lies about what they see when they look under your clothes with these machines.
According to the TSA blog, “Below, you will see accurate examples of what our officers see while using advanced imaging technology. Anything else you see is inaccurate.”
Above, we’ve linked directly to the images on the TSA website, exactly as sized and posted by them.
In fact, it’s the images posted by the TSA that are inaccurate and misleading. The actual images seen by the people in the back room (they watch you through your clothes, but you can’t watch them) are: (1) full-screen, not thumbnail-sized like those the TSA posted in their blog, (2) higher-resolution than those on the TSA blog, and (3) capable of being zoomed even larger, on the actual TSA displays, using the magnifying-glass tool in the lower right corner of the TSA-provided thumbnails.
Accurate images are visible in the video below (although even if you click through to the full-screen version the video doesn’t have as high resolution as the displays used by the TSA, especially when they zoom in on areas of the body that attract their interest):
Note also that the video clearly demonstrates that the TSA policy for pat-down searches to be performed by a person of the same gender won’t be applied to the virtual strip-searchers.
The TSA website says that, “Multiple signs informing passengers about the technology, including sample images, are displayed in plain sight at the security checkpoints, in front of the advanced imaging units.” When the signs are displayed, however, the “sample images” — like the ones above from the TSA website — are only a small fraction of the size and resolution of those the scanner operator sees.
EPIC has now filed another FOIA lawsuit against the TSA for failing to disclose what the images look like. Notably, the EPIC complaint filed in court today confirms that our experience with the ongoing TSA FOIA black hole wasn’t an isolated incident. EPIC’s request for expedited FOIA processing was made on July 2, 2009 — more than six months ago — and referred to the TSA by the DHS on July 16, 2009. On July 31, 2009, EPIC filed an administrative appeal of the constructive denial of its request. An expedited request should have been acted on within 10 days, and an appeal within twenty days. But to date, according to the complaint, the TSA has made no response whatsoever to either the request or the appeal. In our experience, this is typical of the TSA’S complete contempt for the FOIA law.
We aren’t reassured by the TSA’s further claim in the same blog post that, “These machines are not networked, so they cannot be hacked.” Apparently they’ve never heard of an inside job, or anyone hacking a computer from the keyboard. (Security hint to the TSA: The keyboard is the easy way, compared to having to carry out an attack over a network.) That just reconfirms that the TSA’s threat model is grossly deficient and that they aren’t really even trying to rein in the temptations (can you say, “naked celebrity pix”?) that the virtual strip-searchers inevitably will face.
Finally, the TSA is still saying that “Use of advanced imaging technology is optional to all passengers.” What they don’t say is that your other “option” will be to submit to a full manual pat-down, regardless of whether you would have set off the metal detector. So if the alternative to a virtual strip-search is a non-virtual strip search, can someone explain to us how that’s a “choice” that should make us more willing to submit to either option?
If we have to be exposed to the TSA, maybe we should just expose ourselves when we get to the airport.
P.S. We forgot to mention the TSA’s claim that no 8-year-old is on the no-fly list, debunked today in the New York Times. Maybe 8-year-old Mikey Hicks isn’t on a watch list, but his name is, and the effect is the same: He can’t fly without getting the 3rd degree. What did that entail? We can’t show you. The TSA demands the right to look (and feel) under your clothes, but they wouldn’t let Mikey’s mother take pictures of how he was frisked.
January 13th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I don’t know if you saw this or not, but I remember Rapiscan bragging about their 25 million dollar order from the TSA a few months ago. The pants guy had nothing to do with it, the order was already placed. See the press release here:
http://www.rapiscansystems.com/fullarticle.asp?newsid=171
January 14th, 2010 at 7:19 am
[...] Originally published by Edward Hasbrouck on PapersPlease.org. [...]
January 14th, 2010 at 8:16 am
[...] Originally published by Edward Hasbrouck on PapersPlease.org. [...]
January 14th, 2010 at 9:30 am
2 things. As someone with metal in my body I regularly get the pat down. I don’t find it very bothersome but would like to point out that based on all my pat downs I could have a bomb in my pants and they still wouldn’t catch it with that. (It is also VERY questionable that the WBI machines would either.)
Second the TSA spin on the NY Times article will be he’s not on the no fly list he’s on the selectee list and can fly after his identity has been vetted to determine he isn’t he person of interest they are looking for,
January 14th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
There are ALWAYS alternatives!
Instead of being a victim, BOYCOTT!!
If you cannot afford a private airplane, rediscover the beauty of North America via private automobile. I have, and it really IS beautiful!!
January 14th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Dennis unfortunately boycotting is not an option for those who need to fly for their work. Also traveling across the country by car is only an option if you have the free time to do so, again not an option for many people.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
I neglected to mention the enormous efficiency of telecommuting around the world on the web.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:57 am
[...] o que me chamou à atenção foi um comentário a esta notícia e o qual eu verifiquei, que indica que a aquisição pela TSA de diversos destes equipamentos à [...]
January 16th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
If everyone boycotted for just a short time, it wouldn’t last too long. As a long time airline employee, I cannot believe that people are willing to put-up with this total violation of your right to privacy, but it seems that the Constitution just doesn’t that much to American’s anymore. I am hoping for a massive,wide-spread boycott of air travel and as an employee, I will not be going through the naked body scanners. I will change careers before I subject myself to that nonsense!
January 18th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Look on the bright side. We’ll see a lot more naked celebrities once this technology is embraced. Oh, yeah, no we won’t because they have the power and money to sue and intimidate the TSA to prevent their liberties from being infringed.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:20 pm
You’ve revealed something i never knew.I was not expecting this from TSA.They shouldn’t hide anything from travelers.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
[...] from 2009 to 2011, with most of that going toward the purchase of “up to 1,000″ new virtual strip-search (”Whole Body Imaging” or, in the latest euphemistic language of the budget, [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:19 am
[...] dollars from 2009 to 2011, with most of that going toward the purchase of “up to 1,000? new virtual strip-search (”Whole Body Imaging” or, in the latest euphemistic language of the budget, “Advanced Imaging [...]
February 4th, 2010 at 6:24 am
[...] dollars from 2009 to 2011, with most of that going toward the purchase of “up to 1,000? new virtual strip-search (”Whole Body Imaging” or, in the latest euphemistic language of the budget, “Advanced Imaging [...]
February 4th, 2010 at 10:39 am
[...] any rule that doesn’t meet the test of necessity, including not just mandatory submission to body scanners but also extra-judicial no-fly orders or inability to present government-issued [...]
February 19th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
[...] They also completely ignore our mention of international treaties, which are likely to become a growing issue not just for the DHS and TSA but for their counterparts imposing similar restrictions on freedom of movement in other countries, such as mandatory submission to virtual strip searches. [...]
February 24th, 2010 at 6:46 am
[...] Papers, Please! » Blog Archive » TSA lies again about what the strip-search machines see [...]
March 11th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
[...] from Canadian airports, both domestic and international. Why the higher fees? To pay for more virtual strip-search machines (”body [...]
March 27th, 2010 at 8:31 am
[...] as the TSA continues to claim that virtual strip-search machines (body scanners, “whole body imaging”, or in the latest TSA euphemism “advanced [...]
April 7th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Once again the government is enjoining its citizens from the free pursuit of travel and recreation. Wether it is the unceasing pressure to get an automated toll collection device in every car (which can also track where and when you go and how fast you get there). A GPS in every cell phone ostensibly to be able to find you in an emergency. our rights and privacy are being eliminated at a rate that would do Stalin and Kim Jong-il proud. the analogy made on the John Stewart show about our representatives following the same pattern that professional wrestlers do in there story lines is so true as to almost be laughable if it did not make me so afraid. Unfortunately there will be no great outcry, no demands for truth and the same fools that now govern will continue to sell this country out for money and power. I fear and am saddened for my grandchildren to come, America is sliding into a fascist society and becoming a third world power as we blog. Our only hope lies in going to another planet and starting over (I know its a pipe dream but don’t we all have them?) Until then keep up the good fight and remember that one person can make a differance.
April 13th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
If you can take the train! Wide seats you can walk around at any time and electrical outlets for most seats (on Amtrak). You can even bring your own food. Again it is an option if you are some place with trains and the time to travel.
June 3rd, 2010 at 7:43 pm
The TSA website claims the AIT is optional, however today at CMH I had NO CHOICE. They also patted me down, and reprimanded me for because of a wallet.
June 6th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Backscatter actual images (2006)
Note that software and hardware improvements over 4 years certainly has made the pictures better!
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs538.ash1/31492_116905035017501_100000940157455_83609_869034_n.jpg
and
http://rupture.co.uk/Terminal%204.html
June 22nd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
[...] “Whole-Body Imaging” (WBI) in the latest TSA-speak) are being used. We suggested that the signs should include whole-body images at the same size, scale, and resolution as the displays u…, when the display is zoomed in on a portion of the body to its maximum magnification. [...]
August 11th, 2010 at 3:39 am
Pretty intrusive but still better than the old fashioned strip search me thinks!