In a controversial argument about safety vs. privacy, the TSA plans to implement 150 security machines at certain airport checkpoints around the country.
The scanners, which cost $100,000, will create low-intensity x-rays to show what’s beneath a person’s clothing. The rays bounce off the skin, and the machine creates an image that shows solid objects. Representatives from the TSA say that the method is a surefire way to see bombs, knifes, and other concealable weapons, which is integral to limiting terrorism.
Some say that the scanners invade an individual’s privacy, since the image that shows on the screen is a view of a person without clothes, but the images are said to reveal as etchings, and not a clear photo. Once the images have been viewed by a security official in a locked room, it is immediately deleted.
As of right now, travelers booking flights can opt to avoid the scanner, instead choosing to go through a metal detector and then get patted down. The TSA has current plans to install the machines in 150 domestic airports.
© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney
