Body Scanner Follies (Update)

Talk is cheap. A video, on the other hand, speaks volumes.  Aside from the issues surrounding the treatment of Americans (and everyone else) at airports (and elsewhere) under the rubric of saving us from terrorists by placing their body parts against our body parts in ways that would result in long prison sentences if it was done by anyone out of uniform, the concepts falls apart if it’s not effective.

This video is quite persuasive. While the use of body scanners, even if they did serve their intended purpose, fell shy of justifying the imposition of the government on the public as far as I was concerned, this seems to put the nail in the coffin.



Still feel safer?

H/T Randazza at the Legal Satyricon.

Update: It appears that the TSA doesn’t want you to see this video, and has “cautioned” journalists not to write about it. Via Ken (Mr. “I prefer to take long walks anyway”) at  Popehat, who asked TSA spokesgal Sari Koshetz whether it was true:


I expected the TSA might ignore me. I expected the TSA might say “no, you idiot, we didn’t strongly caution anyone against reporting a story, and we didn’t imply a threat to anyone.”

I did not expect a weak semi/non-denial that seems to corroborate that reporters were, in fact, “cautioned.” In fact, an uncharitable reader might note that Ms. Koshetz didn’t specifically deny making implicit threats, didn’t specifically deny strongly cautioning journalists against reporting a story, and in fact only made an ambiguous statement that could be read several different ways, some of them ominous.

As Ken notes, if the claim that the TSA hadn’t strong-armed reporters to drop the story was false, chances are awfully strong they would have said exactly that. The government isn’t shy when it comes to calling its opponents lying scum. They didn’t. Take from that what you will.

And I would be remiss in not mention Amy Alkon, The Advice Goddess, for her contribution in exposing TSA’s efforts to suppress  Jonathan Corbett’s video.

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11 thoughts on “Body Scanner Follies (Update)”

  1. John Burgess

    Does he really imagine that TSA will respond by dropping the scans?

    Far more likely is that we’ll now be asked to turn 90° for a second shot, thus doubling exposure to whatever level of radiation the machines already pump out.

  2. John Burgess

    Oh… I should have added that the profile pix will also double the amusement of those reading the scans as they will now also have images of whatever protuberances the victim passengers sport.

  3. SHG

    I’m betting the TSA will give him a medal and a balloon, and develop BodyScanner 1001, requiring replacement of all existing scanners at a very reasonable price.  Then again, I look to Michael Chertoff for investment advice.

  4. Libertarian Advocate

    By God Scott, by linking that video you appear to be suggesting that we are now ruled by a corruptocracy. I’m shocked, just shocked!

  6. Shawn McManus

    I’ve no arguement against getting rid of the scanners (I’d love to) but need to counter a few of his arguments:

    1. Nearly everyone going through a body scanner has already been through – and set off – a metal detector twice.

    2. Not all body scanners are front and back only. Many are 360 degree view with your arms in the air (DFW especially). Those that are not are being phased out by those that are. I suspect that is also part of the corruption behind this, too.

    “Oh! That first batch of billion dollar machines didn’t do the trick? Well try these multi-billion dollar machines, instead.”

  7. Chris Bray

    At Boston Logan, I’ve been directed to go through the backscatter zapper without first going through the metal detector many times (and have opted out each time). The TSA is trying to *replace* the metal detectors with the porn scanners, which is insane.

  8. Luke Gardner

    I’ve also been directed to the RapeScan at W. Palm Beach, w/out first going through the metal detector.

  9. John Burgess

    My last air travel — FL to LA and back — involved five flights, each using the sooper-dooper X-Ray machines. In no case did I go through a standard magnetometer first. It was straight into the scanner, raise arms, then exit when the door opened on the other side.

  10. Frank

    Over on the TSA Out Of Our Pants website it is being reported that mainstream reporters are being threatened by TSA officials against covering this story.

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