Travelers uneasy about new airport security device

We wrote about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) testing millimeter-wave scanners at a couple of airports. The new body scanner can see through clothing to search for concealed weapons. It takes about fifteen seconds and uses low-energy electromagnetic waves to create an image of the passenger’s body. The technician looking at the image is in a separate area so the passenger never sees them. Also, the image cannot be stored, so your security will be protected. Some travelers interviewed by WCTV did not see an issue with this new technology. “Some people may think it’s an intrusion of their privacy but I think that as long as we deal with it responsibly that you now we use every avenue possible to protect against any kind of security threats,” said one. “If it’s just instantaneously while your walking through the machine I’m not concerned with that especially if it would cut down on any other kinds of things we have to do like taking our shoes off,” said another. Other travelers think this device goes too far. “I sort of feel like it’s bordering on invading my privacy in it that if it’s a scan machine that can pretty much see what I’m wearing underneath everything it almost defeats the purpose of me having on outer clothing,” said one of the interviewed passengers. “It’s almost like a sex thing, it’s perverted. I just…totally,” said Eugenia Poole, a traveler.

And some say the device is simply unnecessary. “I just think you should you know be reasonable but all the excessive you know security is really — I don’t think it makes me feel any safer. I think it’s just ridiculous,” said a fourth passenger. As of now the whole body image machine is voluntary, passengers who set off the first metal detector and don’t want to wait for the pat down procedure can opt for this one.