New Airport Full-Body Scans: Addresses Privacy Concerns, or Still Worrisome?

When full-body scanners at airports became prevalent at airports in recent years, it stoked a debate over whether the scanners are too invasive.

Yesterday, however, the Boston Globe reported that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) unveiled new body scanners that show less details to TSA screeners. Instead of detailed images viewed in a private room by security personnel, the scanners initially only produce generic outlines of passengers, while still picking up on weapons or suspicious objects on a would-be traveller's body. 

When full-body scans were introduced, some protested that the images were too intrusive and that the scans themselves would be ineffective because they would not detect "low-density" materials like plastics, chemicals and liquids. Others argued over health risks. Passengers were not required to go through the full-body scanners and could opt out for a pat-down.

Those in favor of the scanners argued that they reveal metallic and non-metallic items, are less instrusive and more effective than pat-downs, and that they do not produce naked images of travellers—a concern seemingly rendered moot by the new scanners, which use electromagnetic waves instead of X-rays.

With yesterday's announcement by the TSA, we want to know: Has your opinion of full-body scanners at the airport changed? Did you opt-out before and won't anymore, or do you still have concerns over the full-body scans? Or did you not have any problem with the scanners in the first place? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.