IP: "Holographic" Full-Body Security Scanning

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

Date: Wed, 30 Oct 1996 09:19:14 -0500
To: farber () central cis upenn edu (David Farber)
From: rjs () rpcp mit edu (Richard Jay Solomon)






Clearly a plot by Amtrak.




[Yet another reason to read Compressed Air magazine...]


Date: Mon, 28 Oct 96 21:20 PST
From: privacy () vortex com (PRIVACY Forum)
Subject: PRIVACY Forum Digest V05 #20


PRIVACY Forum Digest      Monday, 28 October 1996      Volume 05 : Issue 20


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Date:    Sun, 27 Oct 96 15:15 PST
From:    lauren () vortex com (Lauren Weinstein; PRIVACY Forum Moderator)
Subject: "Holographic" Full-Body Security Scanning


According to an article in the Oct-Nov 1996 issue of "Compressed Air"
magazine (a wonderful Ingersoll-Rand publication that covers a very wide
range of topics), the Federal Aviation Administration is planning to begin
testing the use of a full-body "holographic" imaging system at a U.S.
airport next year.


The system (an earlier version of which was discussed previously in the
PRIVACY Forum), actually uses millimeter waves (~30 Ghz) to quickly (within
a few seconds) generate a "naked" image of the scannee.  The device has been
under development for a number of years and appears to be evolving rapidly.
The transmitted millimeter radiation passes through clothes but bounces off
the body or other objects (e.g., everything from loose change to firearms,
hidden money packets, etc.)


Outside of the rather obvious broader privacy implications of such a device,
two special issues should also be considered.  First, even though the
millimeter radiation used is non-ionizing (e.g. less energetic than x-rays),
there is considerable controversy about the health risks of exposure to
non-ionizing radiation at these wavelengths.  The statement is made that the
system is similar in exposure to supermarket "door opener" microwave
scanners, though this seems somewhat difficult to accept given the
completely different scanning requirements of the two devices.


But another problem may be even more likely to concern the public at large
about such equipment.  As the photographs included with the article show all
too clearly, the device generates quite detailed "nude" images.  It is
decidedly uncertain how people will feel about being required to pass
through a system that creates instant 360 degree naked pictures, possibly
archived to tape as well!  The promoters of the system suggest that using
"same-sex" operators would alleviate these concerns.  Excuse me, but are we
all living on the same planet?  Talk about needing a reality check...


I have no doubt that there might be special situations where such a device,
as an alternative to "pat-downs" or other intrusive personal searches, could
be useful.  But broadscale deployment of such systems in airports as a
routine body scanning procedure seems unlikely to be acceptable to most of
the public.


--Lauren--


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