I've not seen this addressed to my satisfaction - why can't the TSA scanners just show a rendering..

[Richardo]

...of the body? An outline, a stick figure even? (sorry xkcd)

Whatever they're looking for can just show as a blob on the map of the body and they could take the person away and conduct a more thorough search in private.

[emulatorloo]

1. Per Josh Marshall TPM: "they usually reveal about as much as you do walking around in a bathing suit

"Whatever else you can say about the backscatter scans, they usually reveal about as much as you do walking around the pool in a tight bathing suit."

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/11/lurid_and_corrupt.php?ref=fpblg

I read in an earlier thread that the more lurid images turned out to be fakes. (From an sfgate story, I will try to track it down)

OK here is a link -- DRUDGE published FAKE images.

http://trueslant.com/KashmirHill/2010/01/27/tsa-scanner-porn-hoax-fools-gizmodo-drudge-report/

These TSA porn photos would be alarming — if they were real

Earlier this month, Gizmodo and the Drudge Report posted the images below. The first is supposed to be from the TSA’s whole body imaging machines, and the second is supposed to be the image after it’s been “inverted” and “tinted” using Photoshop. Redacted version below, and original pornoriffic version here

[PVnRT]

2. They can and do in Europe

There, the image is a stick figure with suspicious areas outlined in red. Oddly enough, those scanners are cheaper and just as effective, but apparently not invasive enough for the KGB TSA.

[jtrockville]

4. Do those less invasive yet still effective scanners enrich Chertoff?

If not, why would we use them?
/confused

[WolverineDG]

3. they actually have machines in use that do just that

complete with a :) where the face should be. Those machines use radiowaves instead of x-rays & are in use at Heathrow.

dg