US Feds lied about storing body scan images.

[ERJ145Driver]

So, apparently, those machines in the airport that scan your body (virtual strip search) are capable of storing those images. Some court in Florida is using the same machine and have admitted to have stored tens of thousands of these images. I feel like in a few months the TSA are going to admit that they also store these images. I personally feel it's a violation of privacy, and I think we've just gone too far with this. What's preventing TSA from having males looking at naked female images or the other way around? Article (http://doihaveafuturehere.org/?p=74)

[Donkey497]

Without reading the article, IIRC the image is a monochrome one, so there'd be about as much of a thrill as looking at a clothes dummy from a store window. Having said that, at least a dummy is usually made up or painted to look at least vaguely male or female, so there's probably somewhat less of a thrill looking at these images than a display dummy.

[ERJ145Driver]

Yeah, I'm really more concerned about the lying part actually.

[PAXboy]

An image that is generated by a computer can sure as heck be stored by a computer. In my view, this was ALWAYS going to happen. This is what human beings do. The images may have been stored by accident or deliberately but - once discovered the default for humans is to lie to protect themselves.

Privacy? No, brother, not until after the revolution! :hmm:

[Juan Tugoh]

No, brother, not until after the revolution!

History tells us the revolutions seldom result in free society. Usually the regime that sweeps in with a revolution is more restrictive and intrusive and paranoid than the one it replaces.

[MathFox]

PAXboy, the image generated by the computer has to be temporarily stored in order to show it. Alas all scanners seem to have the functionality to permanently store the images and allow a way to get them out of the machine onto a normal computer.
When the TSA says "that feature is not normally used", it means that they do it when "they feel like it" and don't like any democratic control on what they are doing there. What will be the result? Another bunch of unused machines at the security checkpoint?

[ExXB]

While I disagree, in principle, to the use of these scanners (mainly because I am not convinced that they are value for money, nor do I believe they make us safer) frankly I could give a monkey's is some TSA 'babe' wants to look at my plumbing, or some bored TSA guy want's to drool over an image of my wife. Frankly they could get a better look at any beach anywhere - or they could simply surf on the internet. (where they will not find either my plumbing or images of my wife, I hasten to add)

I certainly didn't think, when they introduced these things, that the images wouldn't be stored, shared, used for training, etc.

While I understand that you are concerned that you were lied to, weren't you just a little naïve to have believed them in the first place?

[PAXboy]

Juan TugohHistory tells us the revolutions seldom result in free society. Usually the regime that sweeps in with a revolution is more restrictive and intrusive and paranoid than the one it replaces.Sure, but the revolution gives an opportunity to break into govt buildings and destroy things!

Any, and all, govts will gradually acquire more restrictive rights for themselves. A revolution tends to 'reset' the values and therein lies the chance.

To be serious, am I bothered about my image being stored in this way? Couldn't care less. Will these scanners mane any difference to airline security? Probably not.

MathFoxPAXboy, the image generated by the computer has to be temporarily stored in order to show it. Alas all scanners seem to have the functionality to permanently store the images and allow a way to get them out of the machine onto a normal computer.Eerr, Yes. I thought that was what I said? It has to be stored temporarily after the scan is completed, so that it can be displayed. The storage might be in memory or on a disc and it could be stored permanently by changing one setting.

'National Security' are the words to watch out for ...

ExXBI certainly didn't think, when they introduced these things, that the images wouldn't be stored, shared, used for training, etc. Sorry, I'm just too cynical, I assumed that they would be and would become a 'currency'. This story is of no surprise and there will be others.

Have you ever seen collections of medical x-rays doing the rounds ....? I have and I'm not in the medical world.

[Juan Tugoh]

Sure, but the revolution gives an opportunity to break into govt buildings and destroy things!

Vive la revolution!

I'm all for a bit of smashing stuff up.

The reality of this is that the federal government is probably far more restricted in it's actions by the workings of the US Constitution and the Supreme Court than the UK government. The erosion of civil liberties under the Bliar government was astonishing, detention without trial for 42 days, RIPA and councils spying on people to ensure they live in the correct area for the school they want their children to go to. Changing the structure of the judicial system itself in order to make it more government friendly, all under the banner of bringing it up to date. All from a UK government that lied openly in parliament in order to take us into an illegal war in Iraq so that Tony Bliar could cement his place in history.

It sure ain't the US government that worries me

[ExXB]

I think you misread my double-negative. :p

[PAXboy]

ExXBI think you misread my double-negative.
Oooopps! :O Yes, I hereby doubly apologise ... ;)

JT With you on that, don't get me started on TB. :suspect: There are times when I feel that a bit of 'Anarchy in the UK' would be a very good idea.