As you might have read, the TSA has been quietly testing a new form of screening machine that can see through traveler’s clothes to detect weapons and other prohibited items. Security experts laud the machine’s ability to catch non-metallic weapons that current x-ray-based machines cannot see. Privacy advocates consider the machines overly invasive and likely to deter travelers. To address these concerns, screeners who view the images look solely into the machine’s scope and not directly at the traveler, the machines cannot save any images, and the traveler’s face is blurred. The Dallas Morning News just ran this story on them.

What do you think? For me (admittedly less modest than some), I think they are a benefical tool and hope to see wider use of them. I won’t go into details here for fear of being hunted down in the night by TSA goons, but I think our airport security has plenty of room for improvement. These machines are a significant step forward. But I imagine some of you might disagree. Click “Comment” and share your opinion.