Millimeter wave scanner: Difference between revisions
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Three [[security scan]]ners using millimeter waves were put into use at [[Schiphol Airport]] in Amsterdam on [[15 May]] [[2007]], with more expected to be installed later. The passenger's head is masked from the view of the security personnel. |
Three [[security scan]]ners using millimeter waves were put into use at [[Schiphol Airport]] in Amsterdam on [[15 May]] [[2007]], with more expected to be installed later. The passenger's head is masked from the view of the security personnel. |
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The [[Transportation Security Administration |
The U.S. [[Transportation Security Administration]] is planning to deploy several machines in airports for testing in the United States in spring 2008. As of May 2008, one has been deployed to [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport|Baltimore-Washington International Airport]], as part of a larger security checkpoint redesign.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90160599 New TSA Scanner Makes Clothes Invisible]</ref> |
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One is currently in use in [[London Luton]] airport. |
One is currently in use in [[London Luton]] airport. |
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Revision as of 20:18, 5 May 2008
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A Millimeter Wave Scanner (also called whole body imaging) is an imaging device used for airport security screening.
Technical details
Clothing and other organic materials are translucent in some extremely high frequency (millimeter wave) radio frequency bands.[1]
According to Farran Technologies, a manufacturer of one model of the millimeter wave scanner, the technology exists to extend the search area to as far as 50 meters beyond the scanning area which would allow security workers to scan a large number of people without their awareness that they are being scanned.[2]
Deployment
These machines have been deployed in the Jersey City PATH train system [3].
Three security scanners using millimeter waves were put into use at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on 15 May 2007, with more expected to be installed later. The passenger's head is masked from the view of the security personnel.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is planning to deploy several machines in airports for testing in the United States in spring 2008. As of May 2008, one has been deployed to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, as part of a larger security checkpoint redesign.[4]
One is currently in use in London Luton airport. [5]
Privacy concerns
Privacy advocates are concerned about the use of this technology because it allows screeners to see airport passengers without clothing.
Currently the technology does not mask any part of the bodies of the people who are being scanned and proposed remedies for privacy concerns include only scanning people who are detected to be carrying an object that may be a weapon and developing technology[citation needed] to mask genitals and other 'private parts', and an article about the PATH system states that an unnamed government official stated this technology is already in place[3], leading the journalist to conclude "there are no...privacy issues for travelers".