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Whole Body Imaging

Innovation & Technology

Passenger imaging is an umbrella term used to describe technologies that visually screen travelers, allowing TSA to more thoroughly detect weapons, explosives and other threat items.

TSA will be using two different types of passenger imaging technology during a pilot phase: backscatter and millimeter wave.

TSA has piloted backscatter passenger imaging technology at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) since February 2007. Testing of millimeter wave technology will begin in PHX in October 2007.

In the current pilot phase at PHX, backscatter is being used during secondary screening, on a voluntary basis, as an alternative to the traditional pat-down. To date, approximately 79 percent of passengers have opted to try backscatter rather than undergo a pat-down. The millimeter wave unit will also be positioned in secondary screening as a voluntary alternative to a pat-down.

TSA plans to expand the passenger imaging pilot in the coming months to JFK and LAX. There will be opportunity for continued public dialogue as we evaluate how the technology performs in the airport setting. During the pilot TSA will assess operational issues, passenger throughput and privacy concerns.

What are the Privacy Measures of Passenger Imaging?

Images will not be printed, stored or transmitted

To ensure privacy, the passenger imaging technology being tested by TSA has zero storage capability and images will not be printed stored or transmitted. Once the transportation security officer has viewed the image and resolved anomalies, the image is erased from the screen permanently. The officer is unable to print, export, store or transmit the image.

Screener viewing images is remotely located

In addition to not storing, printing or transmitting the image, the transportation security officer will be viewing the image on a stand-alone machine (vs. network) that is located in a remote area from the screening process. The image will not be visible to the public, and the viewing TSO will not be permitted to bring any camera into the viewing area. The transportation security officer attending to the passenger at the machine is unable to see the image being produced. Communications between the attending TSO and viewing TSO are accomplished by a red light/green light system.