China Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 Airport X-Ray Sees Through Clothes Tuesday, November 9, 2004 Posted: 7:58 AM EST (1258 GMT) LONDON, England (Reuters) -- A new X-ray machine at London's Heathrow airport, which sees through passengers' clothes, has been attacked by civil liberties campaigners as a "voyeur's charter." The machine uses low-level radiation to see through clothing, producing an anatomically detailed black and white image of the body underneath. Capable of detecting solid objects concealed under clothing, it started a four month trial in October. Randomly picked passengers are asked if they will volunteer to be scanned by the machine. "I stood in front of the screen and they took three pictures in different positions," said passenger Pernille Nielsen. "I don't mind if the pictures are a little more personal as long as I'm safe in air -- that's what matters," she told Reuters. Another passenger, Maria Love, said: "It's all about being safe, and I really have no problem with it." A spokeswoman for BAA Heathrow said 98 percent of participants gave positive feedback. But British civil rights group Liberty called the X-ray images unjustified and intrusive. "We obviously do not object to taking security measures, but I remain totally unconvinced that it is necessary," a spokesman said. To justify the intrusion, the airport should show current detectors are inadequate, he added. "It's an obvious invasion of people's privacy -- it's a voyeur's charter." The American Transport Security Administration, which has considered using the machines at U.S. airports, echoed Liberty's concerns. "There are a number of privacy issues that need to be addressed before we would do field tests," a spokeswoman said. Scanners currently looking for concealed weapons or explosives on passengers have shown limitations in the past. Traditional X-ray machines used to scan baggage have often struggled to identify plastic explosives, accidentally sounding alarms when detecting chocolate, cheese and peanut butter because of their similar density to the explosive Semtex. Heathrow, which for security reasons declined to say how the new X-ray machine improves on current scanners, denies the machines could cause embarrassment. "It's a very low dose X-ray, the images are not stored, it's same sex operated and the operator that sees the image will not see the person," said the airport spokeswoman. "There will not be a situation that could cause embarrassment," she added. Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports, handling around 64 million passengers a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGGS_DADDY Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 That is an invasion of privacy!! Can you see nipples? Where do I apply for this job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMac Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 I have absolutely no problem with that being used at airports if it means I can ultimately fly safer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mookie0720 Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 If it makes me safer then do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKurp Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 At both the Orlando and Dulles airport last weekend I had to remove everything including my belt and shoes (metal eyelets) to get past the metal detector. So what weapons could still be concealed that this machine is supposed to account for? Not that I really have a problem with this. Unless of course repeated exposure to low-level radiation turns out to be a health issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha Posted November 10, 2004 Share Posted November 10, 2004 What's that thing in that guy's butt??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manichispanic Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 Originally posted by Buddha What's that thing in that guy's butt??? It looks like Jeff Garcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfujskins Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 Originally posted by manichispanic It looks like Jeff Garcia fool, dat's just wrong!:laugh: :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Williams Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 Thats pretty funny though......You've either gotta be a pervert or VERY deticated to your job to hold that position very long.......... I'd probably laugh so much I'd get fired...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenaa Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 What's that thing in that guy's butt??? An errant Mark Brunell Pass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 There has been arguments about this type of low level X-Ray machine for airport use in the US for some time now. I think it was 60 Minutes that did the story a while back. I think it's a great way to make flights safer, though if it was around a few years ago, I'd be in jail now:doh: No, not weapons, just a little grass to somke on vacations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Punani2 Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 what is that a cup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfujskins Posted November 11, 2004 Share Posted November 11, 2004 I always dreamed about owning X-ray goggles. NO JOKE. Im glad we're making strides to it becoming a reality soon:cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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