Mom upset about 12-yr old daughter's full body security scan experience

abc2news.com ^ | 7.21.2010 | David Kosin

[rawhide]

The TSA calls them another weapon in the fight against terrorism.

The machines are meant to detect a wide range of threats. But even children could be picked by an agent to move through one, which doesn't sit well with Michelle Nemphos of Cockeysville.

Her 12-year-old daughter, whom she did not want to appear on camera, was at Tampa International Airport on vacation with a family friend when a TSA officer chose her.

"It's an image of a nude child that they're seeing. This is child pornography whether people want to believe this or not. How is this any different," said Nemphos.

A TSA spokeswoman say the agency's protocol protects privacy. Sari Koshetz says “The officer viewing the image is in a locked room with no windows. The door to the locked room is not opened until the passenger has cleared the checkpoint and the images have been deleted. Should the two officers need to communicate, that is done with whisper headsets."

For Nemphos, that's not enough, not only for her child, but anyone under age 18.

"People think that this is a blurry image. It is not a blurry image. It is an image of a naked person," she said.

Nemphos is still waiting on a response from the TSA.

[MayflowerMadam]

“While I was doing this, a group of individuals walked by dressed in mid eastern clothing. They were motioned through without so much as a side glance.”

About a month ago I posted about a similar experience we had at LAX in March. Some posters accused me of not telling the truth. TSA scrutinized our cats (we were relocating) much more harshly than the foreigners. In fact, every step along the way TSA, airline agents, etc., were going overboard kissing the asses of the middle eastern travelers while we were given the third degree.

I haven’t flown since; it’s too grueling and insulting. DH only flies if he absolutely must for business.

[Candor7]

Thats how poltical correctness works, TSA has to sniff, and then go with the politically correct hit. Thats what happens in a nation which is ruled by political correctness, and not the rule of law.

We havveto “act “ like Muslims to maintain our privacy. Its the nature of conquest.

Wear a burqa, and you just go through the metal detector, no pat down. We live in a totalitarian state now.

[stuartcr]

I travel a lot and that’s just not true.

[Candor7]

What is true then, o frequent traveler? Don’t keep us in supense.

[Senator Goldwater]

Nemphos of Cockeysville? You;re kidding, right?

There is such a place, believe it or not.

Its right above Baltimore, near Towson, MD.

[Scoutmaster]

Good old American ingenuity. A company called Flying Pasties™ sells pasties to wear through the scanners. Here's the model:

And here are some of the variants available:

From the Flying Pasties™ website:

Flying Pasties™ are NOT your typical 'Pasty' or 'sticker', they are reusable - and can obscure your private areas when you pass through airport scanners. No adhesive necessary as they simply slip into your clothing!

Our first generation Flying Pasties work in Millimeter Wave Airport Scanners - currently on sale. Our second generation Pasties work in ALL scanners - keeping your private parts private and blocking harmful radiation to your most sensitive areas.

Until now, citizens haven't had a proper way to voice their displeasure over the intrusive nature of airport scanners. >Flying Pasties™ are meant to obscure your private parts when entering a typical airport scanner.

"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" - Benjamin Franklin

[stuartcr]

My experience, is that sometimes you get patted down and sometimes you don’t. When you don’t get patted down, you just walk through the metal scanner. When you do, they use the back of the hand and explain everything thy are going to do. I’ve never been groped or see anyone get groped. None of the TSA people look like they enjoy their jobs, much less that they are getting thrills from it. I travel about 12-15 times a year, domestic and intrntnl.

[Rightly Biased]

“blocking harmful radiation to your most sensitive areas”

Don’t need those areas harmed lol

[Sloth]

"The officer viewing the image is in a locked room with no windows."

Ew. So they just managed to make this sound even more creepy.

[Fresh Wind]

Who is watching the watchers that ogle naked images of our families and exchange private whispers about what they see?

Who is watching the watchers take cell phone pictures of the scanner screens?

[dusttoyou]

send all muslims away

Hoping your meaning “to meet alah and the 72 virgins”.

[Syncro]

Important video, but not the latest outrage

It happened in Jan, 2008

[ExTexasRedhead]

Thanks. It was on a FR thread more current outrages are all over the place.

[riri]

No way either of my kids would ever go through one of these machines.

[Syncro]

Yes, it's going viral

And is an unconstitutional travesty

[ExTexasRedhead]

I suggest you talk with the Israelis about how they conduct security in a professional manner; unlike TSA.

[353FMG]

Nah, let them all live in a muslim country and stay there.

[NormsRevenge]

A nation at peril from within, asked to sacrifice all to cover for the lame excuses of those who will not profile.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Sorry.

Won’t change without MASS revolt, i.e. entire planeloads refusing to be checked at all in solidarity with the random thorough check. Make them cancel flights.

As long as only individuals object in any one place, no chance for change.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

"Additional privacy protections include the fact that faces are blurred and the image is like a fuzzy photographic negative."

They say anything because they think you're stupid.
Like you can't reverse a negative to a positive in any imaging software...