New Airport Scanner Gets Personal

Equipment Peers Through Clothing, Alarming Privacy Advocates

(CBS)  It's called a backscatter X-ray, but critics call it a digital strip-search, CBS News correspondent Bob Orr reports.

Here's how it works: A passenger stands in front of a large scanner, X-rays penetrate clothing, but bounce off the traveler's body. This generates a silhouette-like image.

"Here, down in the passenger's sock, you can see what's been concealed here is a ceramic knife," says Joe Reiss, explaining a demonstration.

Reiss, whose company makes the backscatter machine, says it's key to finding weapons and objects that metal detectors and traditional X-rays miss.

"It has the capability to find all types of weapons — not only guns and knives, but also explosive devices or even non-metallic weapons," says Reiss, vice president of American Science and Engineering.

But backscatter X-rays have been highly controversial. Earlier versions were explicitly revealing, capturing pictures in which people appeared nearly naked.

The new backscatter, which will be tried out in Phoenix, is not nearly that graphic. Its software adds privacy filters, and security officials stress the images will not be saved.

Passengers CBS News spoke with on Thursday in Phoenix weren't worried.

"I like it. I'd feel safer if I knew that was there," one male passenger says.

"It's pretty impressive that it just shows the outline of the body versus showing any private parts," a female passenger says.

But privacy advocates are still outraged.

"We're not convinced that it's necessary. We're not convinced that it's effective, and we think the privacy risk is serious and hasn't been fully explained to the public," says Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

At least at the outset, backscatter X-rays will be voluntary. Most passengers will pass right by them. And those who are singled out for extra screening can choose between a backscatter or a traditional pat down.

Security officials say backscatter strikes a fair balance between privacy and security, and that the technology eventually will spread to more airports.

But critics ask, how far will the government go to make us "safer?"

[Lingus014]

All you people who agree with this new scanner and say everyone else who complains about privacy must have something to hide, YOU ARE IDIOTS! WE DONT WANT PEOPLE LOOKING AT OUR BODIES NAKED.

Those willing to give away their freedom for protection, deserve neither! you hear me ? those of us who have a bit of pride and dignity left in ourselves do not want to be seen naked through this scanner. you people who are happy with this new scanner..well what can I say...you have no pride or dignity allowing people to see you naked for "Protection"..

[maaaaaad]

The year is 2009,and you don't have the right to refuse now,,This is an outrage!!!! i'm pretty sure the airports don't need any more bad publicity..I live in albq.N.M and they just installed these mandatory....We are a small city that has never had a terrorist prob....I will not be useing the Abq,sunport ever again,and i know alot more people that won't unless they remove them..Read the constitution, then decide for your selves who the real terrorists are...Come on people read a little......

[michellem99-2009]

I read the posts and I for one Can't see to drive but same time hate having my pock book gone thru as s blind person have nothing to hide but I know where things are.I know that I need use things related my handicaps. This ban rule hurts us who need items. Don't tell us to get over it. The kids who say this have not walked in our boots. I have NOT forgotten 9/11 but it seems people are willing to let Big Brother control. Bush didn't/doesn't helps matters I am talking about FEAR. America-US stop being the world's cop. End your FEAR.

[bildooreilly]

Freedom isn't about guaranteed safety. Freedom is risky and slightly dangerous, seems a lot of americans aren't cut out for freedom these days. They'd give it all up just to be told their safe which is nothing more than an illusion, you'll never be totally safe.

I used to fly quite often, I haven't flown for a year or so now since they won't even let you take a cigarette lighter on a plane anymore. I say just stop using their services as much as possible and let them all go bankrupt again or before you know it you'll all be flying naked and cavity searches will be the accepted norm... You got a better chance of being struck by lightening than being killed in a terror attack, grow a back bone.

[oleander8]

No! No! No! No! Enough! Airport security has become an entrepreneurial opportunity. Will they start putting these contraptions at the entrances to malls? at bus stops? government buildings? This is security gone mad - and some people are going to get very rich.

[michellem99-2009]

I am older and I last flew in the 80s. I don't like the hand held thing they use for personal reasons. I would not like some one I don't know seeing what they should not. WHO has access to what the Xray or what ever they are called sees. What is done with the visuals. I can understand why but how clear are they. I like it before they put in all them crazy laws. Awerica use to be great. Her leaders took her down hill.

[darkfyreaol]

I don't see a problem with the BackScatter.

For one, in the year or two after 9/11, there were countless visitors from other countries who were themselves treated as if they were terrorists, or less than human. Random strip searches at the airports, and all they got was a 'sorry' from Uncle Sam, if that.

This is by far less invasive then any cavity search.

[sharncedar]

"What American's need is some personal courage, not more laws. "

Hear hear. When exactly did we become a nation of sniveling cowards.

Odd how its the Republicans who run to big government like it was their mommy, to hide without dignity or courage in the skirts of intrusive government authority. Abject cowardice, oddly coupled with their silly swaggering talk.

It's only death, far worse to honest men is the loss of their freedom, you little Repub phonies. Don't you DARE SAY YOU admire John Wayne, would he be caught dead hiding in fear behind some government strip search? He'd die with his boots on and his body unviolated. You make me sick.

[rf35]

The government already has my DNA sample. They took it about 8 years ago so if I was shredded in combat they could ID my remains easier. I do not have a bar code tattoo (yet) but my ID card has a microchip.

[bobgee_1999]

A dangerous person is dangerous whether they're armed or not. I agree with ObservantX in spirit, but this specific is a bit trivial, besides, we're talking about a group activity (flying) not a personal one. On the other hand I disagree with Myopinion34 that anyone's personal opinion should ever be put aside for anyone's safety. Opinions of themselves are beyond legislation. Anyway, if the terrorist goal is to terrorize, then they've already won. The war is over. What American's need is some personal courage, not more laws.