TSA to remove controversial naked X-ray scanners
Those airport scanners with their all-too revealing body images will soon be going away.
The Transportation Security Administration says the X-ray scanners will be gone by June because the company that makes them can't fix the privacy issues. The other airport body scanners, which produce a generic outline instead of a naked image, are staying.
The government rapidly stepped up its use of body scanners after a man snuck explosives onto a flight bound for Detroit on Christmas day in 2009.
At first, both types of scanners showed travelers naked. The idea was that security workers could spot both metallic objects like guns as well as non-metallic items such as plastic explosives. They also showed every other detail of the passenger's body, too.
The TSA defended the scanners, saying the images couldn't be stored and were seen only by a security worker who didn't interact with the passenger. But the scans still raised privacy concerns. Congress ordered that the scanners either produce a more generic image or be removed by June.
On Thursday Rapiscan, the maker of the X-ray scanner, acknowledged that it wouldn't be able to meet the June deadline. The TSA said Friday that it ended its contract with Rapiscan.
The agency's statement also said the remaining scanners will move travelers through more quickly, meaning faster lanes at the airport. Those scanners, made by L-3 Communications, used millimeter waves to make an image. The company was able to come up with software that no longer produced a naked image of a traveler's body.
Rapiscan parent company OSI Systems Inc. said it will help the TSA move the scanners to other undisclosed government agencies. Scanners are often used in prisons or on military bases where privacy is not a concern.
OSI said it will maintain a scanner contract with the TSA, but would take a one-time charge of $2.7 million.
The contract to change the software on the scanners came under scrutiny in November when the TSA delivered a "show cause" letter to the company looking into allegations that it falsified test data, which the company denied. On Thursday it said final resolution of that issue needs approval by the Department of Homeland Security.
The agreement with the TSA is an indication that OSI Systems will be cleared of the issues raised by the agency, Roth Capital Partners analyst Jeff Martin wrote on Friday. OSI shares jumped $2.79, or 4.1 percent, to $70.44.
Besides the scanners being dropped by TSA, Hawthorne, Calif.-based OSI Systems makes other passenger scanners used in other countries, as well as luggage scanners and medical scanners.
The Transportation Security Administration says the X-ray scanners will be gone by June because the company that makes them can't fix the privacy issues. The other airport body scanners, which produce a generic outline instead of a naked image, are staying.
The government rapidly stepped up its use of body scanners after a man snuck explosives onto a flight bound for Detroit on Christmas day in 2009.
At first, both types of scanners showed travelers naked. The idea was that security workers could spot both metallic objects like guns as well as non-metallic items such as plastic explosives. They also showed every other detail of the passenger's body, too.
The TSA defended the scanners, saying the images couldn't be stored and were seen only by a security worker who didn't interact with the passenger. But the scans still raised privacy concerns. Congress ordered that the scanners either produce a more generic image or be removed by June.
On Thursday Rapiscan, the maker of the X-ray scanner, acknowledged that it wouldn't be able to meet the June deadline. The TSA said Friday that it ended its contract with Rapiscan.
The agency's statement also said the remaining scanners will move travelers through more quickly, meaning faster lanes at the airport. Those scanners, made by L-3 Communications, used millimeter waves to make an image. The company was able to come up with software that no longer produced a naked image of a traveler's body.
Rapiscan parent company OSI Systems Inc. said it will help the TSA move the scanners to other undisclosed government agencies. Scanners are often used in prisons or on military bases where privacy is not a concern.
OSI said it will maintain a scanner contract with the TSA, but would take a one-time charge of $2.7 million.
The contract to change the software on the scanners came under scrutiny in November when the TSA delivered a "show cause" letter to the company looking into allegations that it falsified test data, which the company denied. On Thursday it said final resolution of that issue needs approval by the Department of Homeland Security.
The agreement with the TSA is an indication that OSI Systems will be cleared of the issues raised by the agency, Roth Capital Partners analyst Jeff Martin wrote on Friday. OSI shares jumped $2.79, or 4.1 percent, to $70.44.
Besides the scanners being dropped by TSA, Hawthorne, Calif.-based OSI Systems makes other passenger scanners used in other countries, as well as luggage scanners and medical scanners.
Having a big sign that says Naked X--Ray Scanner, with an arrow pointing to one location, and another sign that says Pat Down would really slow things down. It's a tough choice.
This comment has been deleted
 @Special Force It was more the well-endowed that got the "extra special" attention, because something "odd" showed up, allowing the scum, er, I mean screeners, to cop a lot of extra feels. Saw one story about a good looking gal who managed to get "randomly" selected for closer inspection almost every time she flew.
If it's effective, take it out. Â Concealing nasty naked bodies is much more important than our flight safety and security.
This comment has been deleted
 @white tiger When we invade another country and stay we keep making more people that hate us, If someone invaded the US would you welcome them?Â
This comment has been deleted
 @white tiger And did it salve the problem? The old idea of big armies  and big tanks don't work anymore when the other side doesn't  play by the same rules. Special operational units that go after the leaders might be a better idea. It is hard to fight an enemy that hides behind women and children. 911 could of been prevented because the FBI was told of these people who wanted to learn how to fly an airplane but didn't want to learn how to land them. The schools did their part but the government did not do the job they were paid to do.
Anyone can avoid the full body scan, and opt for the full body pat down instead. It's not a big deal.
 @skepticaloptimist Depends on your medical condition, health, and how sensitive you are to people invading your space. For some people it's a very big deal.
 @skepticaloptimist   They very often do not ask you what you want. They just rush everyone through and you aren't realizing that this machine thing is not just a metal detector. You need to watch and be aware and prepared to ask for the body pat down.
If you don't like the TSA, then don't fly. Period. Pretty easy solution. For all the whining going on about them, I have never had one problem.
 @Common Sense Mostly that's what I do. But it makes getting to the Hawaii family reunion rather challenging. It also sort of cramps things a bit when your job calls for traveling on a semi-regular basis.
It is TSA that needs to be removed. The responsibility for passenger safety belongs to the airlines and their insurance carriers.
...and just so everybody is clear, this is not *all* of the scanners, just the x-ray based ones made by Rapiscan. Â The millimeter wave backscatters by L-3 are still in place and will be used.
Funny how this is all overblown by the ones that hate the scanners. Â These are the sames ones crying foul that not enough was done to prevent a problem. Â I don't fully agree with the imaging detail, which is almost imposible to change, but I feel better flying knowing that I am much safer. Â Also this getting rid of the TSA... or whatever or whoever you want to call it, it does not matter. Â These systems are in place to be redundant so the next person will have less of a chance of fooling it. Â Get rid of TSA... what replaces it, machines, you don't like that either, another group, same thing. Â Suck it up cry babies, it's not invading your privacy, just a small none detailed image, vs getting blown up in the plane. Â Â Yes TSA needs better training, and not have the power trip mentality, but to get rid of them, and life saving machines.. is just dumb, a bunch of cry baby citizens, ooooh you looked at me wrong.. I sue you type of country. Â
After spending millions of taxpayers dollars to install them in the first place.
 @dirtysinner Quick.... TO EBAY!!!!! Â
Under Obama-care, they will be moved to the nearest clinics to be used as MRI's.
"OSI Systems Inc. said it will help the TSA move the scanners to other undisclosed government agencies."
The Secret Service could always use them to "SCAN" there Prostitutes"
 @EASTSIDE 1 The agency they should be moved to is all the entrances that the politicians and those sorts have to enter and exit through for their jobs.  Make them go through what we have had to instead of having their own private flights and exceptions.
Do you think they could teach TSA agents to be polite and not power hungry or is that to much to ask
Â
This would NEVER work in the good old Political Correct U.S.A. but if we did what Israel does and "PROFILE" we could cut T.S.A. by 95%. Sometimes while waiting for a flight I see more T.S.A. employees walking around than passengers walking to a flight.
Victory!
Now if we can get them to quit feeling up our children we might be getting somewhere.
Maybe TSA finally realized that they are in violation of federal child pornography laws when they send minors through the scanners. The EU realized this early on and banned the scanning of minors. TSA still scans adolescent children and occasionally those under 12. From 2008 to 2011, TSA insisted these didn't produce a naked image but later admitted that they did after the L3 system were equipped with ATR. Meanwhile, a group of TSA creeps in a back room are giggling and ogling your wife and kids. TSA is heavy on lies and light on facts when it comes to their mistreatment of travelers. Even when something positive comes out on this agency they insist on demonstrating their disdain for the public they serve by saying that they donât care about our privacy concerns and would have continued to violate our privacy if Congress hadnât made them. This agency and its employees are corrupt and sociopathic and the entire organization needs to be replaced Let the privacy lawsuits begin starting with OSI and TSA AdminisTraitor John Pistole.
I kind of liked those things, gave me a sense of freedom even though I had my clothes on
Well, that was money well spent... :(
Ahhhh, another pathetic, failed experiment, on your dime, by your incredible, brain dead elected officials. . .
Â
x x
'^
I guess they figured out that a hands on job was more convenient, and beneficial.
If you had to make a budget cut of 7 billion dollars, which would you cut TSA or the Military?
 @al_wa Can't we just cut both of them & save even more money?Â
 @al_wa CBPO needs to take over
 @al_wa Trick question? lol
I have no problem with the checkpoints. After traveling through Europe this last year I went through similar experiences. What ever helps in preventing my plane from being hijacked or worse is ok with me. I am willing to wait in lines, have my body viewed in some digital form and my bags searched. No big deal, not sure why everyone is up in arms. Guess what the game changed post 911 we as a society need to deal with it.Â
 @snowman Worked for TSA long?
 @Bill Fisher Nope just another traveler who doesn't give two s**ts of your over exaggerated fear of big brother.Â
 @snowman Sounds like somebody can hardly wait for free cavity searches.Â
I guess the line starts here?
 @snowman like the song goes... "paranoia runs deep". What has changed since 9/11 is we have let the terrorist win.
 @Bornhere I guess I care less, like when smoking in restaurants was banned. I moved on.
 @snowman Fine for you. Carry on.
they would rather have the hands on approach
 I have avoided flying since they got those things, and I've been itching to go somewhere.  Now I can start planning a trip that isn't within driving distance. Score !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 @Shelly They will still expose you to radiation or grope you unless you are luck and you pick a line that is using the Metal detectors when you get to the front.
 @APenny4MyThoughts  @Shelly The Provision MMW are radio waves not x-ray like the RapiScan units.
Now remove the TSA.
Whether you're a fan of the show or not, if you haven't seen South Park's spoof on the TSA, you owe it to yourself to watch the episode.Â
Yay! Â All of my "opt out" requests finally made a difference! Â
Â
 @wsmith_84 They almost never heard about my opt out, because since they came online I have declined to fly all the places I used to go - I just drive, or skip the trip completely. Didn't do the Hawaii family reunion thing, etc. Only flown once since they were around, and that was unavoidable because of scheduling. Now I can at least consider flying again, though the TSA still bugs me six way from Sunday, just on general principles.
 @wsmith_84 I've opted out of every body scan I've been directed to take. I don't mind the metal detector but I will not do the body scan. Irks me every time I have to do it and I get the feeling that most of the TSA folks don't like doing the opt out pat downs either but I won't ever accept a body scan.
Â
Mike
 @MikeCoomer  @wsmith_84 I had no idea you could opt out. I rarely fly, but my mother does frequently and is constantly complaining about always being picked for the full body scan. I'll have to pass it on to her for when she flies. Until they take them down.
 @Thunder  @MikeCoomer  @wsmith_84 "Ma'am, please step in to the scanner."
Â
Me: Â No thanks, opt out.
Â
TSA: Â <grumble> FEMALE ASSIST! Â OPT!
Â
Me: Â Thank you.
 @MikeCoomer Me too. Opt out every time.