EPIC has submitted numerous Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the body scanners. They have posted the information online for all to see. These documents include: TSA Procurement Specifications TSA Operational Requirements TSA contract with L3 TSA contract with Rapiscan Part(1) and Part (2) Initially it was claimed that the TSA body scanners could not store or transmit images. Then the US Marshal Service in August 2010 reported they had saved more than 35000 images. The TSA responded by claiming that it has not done so and the machines do not have the ability. Some still believe the TSA, the smart one’s have distrusted them from the start. One WBI system, identified by the Government, shall (26) have the capability, which can be configurable at the superuser level. to record images for training purposes. The superuser password shall(27) be managed by the TSA. The capability to retain images at the superuser level will be disabled on operational systems Later in the same document(emphasis mine): Incorporate a three level user and password scheme allowing supervision and "superusers" access and override capabilities While they claim for it to be possibly disabled the fact that the feature is there means that someone can re-enabled it. Some would claim that no one would possibly want it. However there have been rumors about a “new fetish”. The thing is though, it’s already happened. That could be your one of your loved ones. We know the types of people the TSA employs. While reading through the Operational Requirements, you can find the following: Normally one would avoid conjecture, however what could be considered critical to national security regarding the privacy capability of the device? NMAB-482-1 can be found here, the section we really care about is here. Continue reading →