Forgot your password?

typodupeerror
Security United States News

DHS Tries To Hide Mobile Scanner Details 201

Posted by Unknown Lamer
from the the-new-black dept.
OverTheGeicoE writes "The Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a Freedom of Information Act request last year (PDF) with the US Department of Homeland Security, whose Transportation Security Administration has been investigating the use of x-ray scanning technology for covert use in more public places, like train stations and even ordinary city streets. TSA has tested interesting devices like the Z Backscatter Vans both privately and on members of the general public. EPIC recently received new documents from DHS. Some of the documents are almost completely black from redactions."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

DHS Tries To Hide Mobile Scanner Details

Comments Filter:
  • by mr1911 (1942298) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @06:35PM (#37135846)
    The government agency responsible for eroding the Constitution would not be open about what they are doing? Preposterous!

    Write your congressional leaders today and demand the TSA be 1) immediately defunded, and 2) disbanded all together. If you really care, expand your note to include the entire DHS.
  • Do I get paid? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Sponge Bath (413667) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @06:44PM (#37135908)
    How much do I get for participating in these medical experiments. Better yet, how can I opt out?
  • by vux984 (928602) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @06:55PM (#37135994)

    "The ZBV produces electronically generated xrays that detect substances containing low atomic number elements such as carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

    These elements are often present in explosives and other contraband..."

    not to mention lumber, tofu, soil, cucumbers, coal, ice cream, books, mayonnaise, ham, and blankets...

  • this is simply unacceptable. I wouldn't be surprised if people started carrying personal x-ray detectors. If you expose my children to x-rays while they're just walking in a public place, I have a serious issue with this. I can't even imagine what's gonna happen if a parent discovers their children have just been exposed.

  • Re:So what if (Score:3, Insightful)

    by flaming error (1041742) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @07:03PM (#37136058) Journal

    > I see no reason not to overthrow this government now
    Some things are easier said than done, friend.

    But if you want government unlike the status quo, a potentially significant start would be to elect Ron Paul President. Whether he'll really be able to accomplish much I don't know, but he's not your typical republicrat.

  • the reason (Score:5, Insightful)

    by nimbius (983462) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @07:12PM (#37136146) Homepage
    your safety comes second and the governments ability to detect terrorists comes first, is because the death of US citizens is well known to be uncontroversial and tolerable, even on large scales such as katrina.

    What is absolutely intolerable is terrorism, because terrorism undermines the governments control of the populous. its one thing if an earthquake kills three thousand people, but its entirely different when a single terrorist accomplishes it...the terrorist draws unwanted attention to the united states government, its foreign policy, its structure and its members position in the class system.

    this is also incidentally why governments are loathe to negotiate with terrorists, regardless of the validity of their positions; a single person or idea should never be allowed to upset the balance of power as it stands.
  • Re:the reason (Score:5, Insightful)

    by evanism (600676) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @07:31PM (#37136310) Journal

    The days of "the united states" seem well and truly over. Economically, politically and socially it has turned to despotism, desperation and an absence of morals.

    time to turn our attentions elsewhere while the poor old US eats itself alive with hate and fear.

    Wonder how long it will be before the hate mongers generate a war with China?

  • Re:So what if (Score:3, Insightful)

    by skr95062 (2046934) on Thursday August 18, 2011 @08:02PM (#37136612)

    But if you want government unlike the status quo, a potentially significant start would be to elect Ron Paul President. Whether he'll really be able to accomplish much I don't know, but he's not your typical republicrat.

    Funny, I thought that was what Obama was going to do. After all he ran under the "Change you can believe in" and the "Yes, we can" slogans.

    So far I have not seen any change in the way the assholes in DC operate. Same old bullshit from politicians "I will make a difference in DC". Although it looks like he finally figured out that "Yes, we can" is really "No, we can't"

    What really blows my mind is how many people actually bought his bullshit and voted for the lying SOB. Yes, he is a lying SOB. There are numerous instances that prove it. This country would be much better off without 546 lawyers in DC.

    Democracy is a government that is afraid of it's citizens, Tyranny is the citizens afraid of the government.

    Which one we have is an exercise left for the reader.

  • Re:So what if (Score:0, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 18, 2011 @10:09PM (#37137506)

    Abortion isn't YOUR body being killed. Asshole.

  • Re:the reason (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Bob9113 (14996) on Friday August 19, 2011 @01:42AM (#37138526) Homepage

    The real death toll from Katrina, for example, is still classified.

    Classified?

    Are you saying the number is extremely hard to calculate perfectly, and so it is something other than 1836 (current number listed on Wikipedia), and depends on your definition, and nobody really knows?

    Or do you mean that the actual number including proximate deaths is well known and clearly documented by the government, significantly higher than the 1836 cited on Wikipedia, and has been intentionally prohibited from public view?

    If the latter, I am very intrigued by your supposition. Do you have a source?

I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work I will do it.

Working...