US Government Info

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. US Government Info
photo of Robert Longley

Robert's US Government Info Blog

By Robert Longley, About.com Guide to US Government Info since 1997

TSA to Test Devices that Can "See Through" Clothing

Thursday April 5, 2007
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced it will test a device that "passively" screens passengers for explosives. The device, employing millimeter wave technology, will be tested on passengers boarding the Staten Island Ferry at the St. George Terminal in Staten Island, New York, during off-peak hours. According to developers and advocates, millimeter wave technology will allow security screeners to "see through" passengers' clothing to detect concealed threats made of ceramic, plastic, glass or metallic materials.

The new technology is part of the TSA's Security Enhancement and Capabilities Augmentation Program (SEACAP).

In theory, the new equipment will allow for effective passenger screening, without any noticeable delay. "Prior to boarding, passengers will move through the terminal's turnstiles at their normal pace," says the TSA in a press release. "Passengers will not be asked to stand in place, nor will they even need to break stride." TSA security screeners will remotely monitor video images of the screened passengers.

TSA contends that "privacy issues will not be a concern," because "the technology does not use whole body imaging." Persons with their clothes being "seen through," might not share the TSA’s lack of concern.

Also See:
Using Cell Phones to Monitor Vehicle Location
Why We Choose to Give Up Our Civil Liberties

Comments

No comments yet. Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike>

Discuss

Community Forum

Explore US Government Info

More from About.com

US Government Info

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. US Government Info

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.