TSA to Remove Invasive Body Scanners From Airports

Ron Nixon, reporting for the NYT:

After years of complaints by passengers and members of Congress, the Transportation Security Administration said Friday that it would begin removing the controversial full-body scanners that produce revealing images of airline travelers beginning this summer. […]

Not sure if this is good news, or no news, given this:

The removal of the Rapiscan scanners does not mean that all full-body scanners will be removed from airport security checkpoints. A second type of full-body scanner does not produce revealing images. Instead, it makes an avatar-like projection on security screens.

Privacy is a genuine concern, but so too is safety. Are these “avatar-like projection” machines still using x-rays? Update: Apparently the remaining ones use millimeter wave technology.

★ Sunday, 20 January 2013