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The Transportation Security Administration has announced that it will remove the controversial “naked image” body scanners from US airports because developers can’t write software to make the images less revealing.
The scanners, made by OSI Systems Inc, have ruffled feathers since they were first rolled out. In a bid to quell controversy, the TSA looked to OSI to redesign software and make the scans less intrusive—but the company has failed to meet a deadline to get the job done.
That means that the TSA will end the £3.5 million contract with OSI, reports Bloomberg. As a result, 174 of its Rapiscan units will disappear from US airports. Karen Shelton, from the TSA, explains:
“It became clear to TSA they would be unable to meet our timeline. As a result of that, we terminated the contract for the convenience of the government.”
However, the scanners aren’t on the way to the junk yard just yet. OSI has struck a deal with the TSA which will see the machines being used by multiple government agencies across the country. That does, at least, mean that it will be federal employees who have their genitals imaged, as opposed to the public.
The news will no doubt be embraced by the legion of protesters, outraged by the privacy implications of the naked body scanners. But save a thought for the poor TSA employees: how are they going to get their kicks now? [Bloomberg]
Image by TSA
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I work at Heathrow and we already got rid of these scanners after a long trial. I can assure you there’s nothing titillating about spending hours sitting looking at fat people that weirdly look like they have been wrapped in tin foil. The person looking at the image is even in a separate room so never sees the person being scanned.
The new scanner we are trialing shows a generic stick man with areas of concern highlighted by the scanner, it works very well but people still bitch about going into it like its going to melt their brain!