New airport screening system sees under clothes

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Photos of the new security system at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Images of the TSA's millimeter wave technology system.

At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, a new security system has been launched that can see items hidden under clothing without any physical contact from screeners. Here, Charles Jefferson (left) of the Transportation Security Administration demonstrates the use of the whole body imaging checkpoint technology to TSA spokesman Jon Allen.

Two different body positions will be required by passengers when being screened.

Allen assumes the 45-degree-angle pose in the scanner as Jefferson watches. The millimeter wave technology system will be used randomly at the airport starting Friday.

Jefferson uses a control panel to send the images to a remote location at the airport.

At the remote system's location, a security algorithm is applied to blur passengers' faces, protecting their privacy. The TSA says images cannot be stored, printed or transmitted and are deleted forever once cleared. The machines have no storage capacity.

The system can detect weapons, explosives and other dangerous items that could be hidden under clothing.

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At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, a new security system has been launched that can see items hidden under clothing without any physical contact from screeners. Here, Charles Jefferson (left) of the Transportation Security Administration demonstrates the use of the whole body imaging checkpoint technology to TSA spokesman Jon Allen.

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