Sometimes, new technology is just plain invasive. All those worried about its ability to violate an individual's privacy can rejoice: The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on Friday that it will remove all body-image scanners from U.S. airports.
The scanners have been unpopular ever since they were initially put to use due to the fact that they produce naked images of the individual, sparking privacy concerns among a number of groups. Because of the outrage and protests that occurred, the TSA asked OSI Systems to develop more generic imaging results, only to find out that the company couldn't do it in time to meet a deadline set by Congress.
As a result, the TSA is ending its $5 million contract with OSI. Last year already saw 76 of the Rapiscan machines removed from busy U.S. airports, while the remaining 174 scanners will be tossed out this year.
"It became clear to TSA they would be unable to meet our timeline," said the agency's Karen Waters. "As a result of that, we terminated the contract for the convenience of the government."
Now that the OSI scanners will be removed, the TSA will instead use machines created by L-3 Communications Holdings to scan for potential weapons or explosives. Unlike OSI scanners, L3's devices use radio signals to search for danger.
The news will be greeted warmly by privacy advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center who sued the TSA in July 2010. The group referred to being scanned as the equivalent to a "physically invasive strip search," and claimed the machines should be banned from use.
On top of privacy concerns, the TSA was also conducting a probe into the possibility that OSI Systems faked the testing data related to the efficiency of the company's first software update. According to then Chairman of the House Transportation Security subcommittee Mike Rogers, the panel was alerted to the possibility that OSI Systems "may have attempted to defraud the government by knowingly manipulating an operational test."
Either way, the result is clear: No more thinking about who's taking a look at your genitals when trying to catch a flight.
