ID:

578

Date:

2010-08-03

Headline:

Group Says Body Scanners Can Store, Transfer Images

Reporter's name:

Juliana Gruenwald

Delay/denial:

No

Lawsuit:

Yes

Fees:

No

Media outlet:

National Journal: Tech Daily Dose

City:

Washington, DC

Summary:

A branch of the Department of Justice (DOJ) settled a FOIA lawsuit by releasing over a hundred stored images of individuals electronically undressed by body-scanning machines, which the federal government had previously claimed were not (and could not be) stored. CNET.com reported that the U.S. Marshals Service had secretly saved tens of thousands of images from the security checkpoint at one Florida courthouse (see "Feds admit storing checkpoint body scan images," 8/4/10, http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20012583-281.html).

Notes:

The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) brought the lawsuit against the U.S. Marshals Service. EPIC has now filed two lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security, one under FOIA and one demanding an emergency stay against the continued use of such scanners in U.S. airports, as the agency arguments that travelers' privacy would be protected have become less clearly substantiated.

Keywords:

Electronic Privacy Information Center, EPIC, U.S. Marshals Service, USMS, Department of Justice, DOJ, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, airport, travel, scanners, body-scanning, images, checkpoint, privacy

URL:

http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/08/group-says-body-scanners-can-s.php

Agencies:

DHS
DOJ

States:

CA
DC
FL

Districts:

Categories:

civil rights
technology
transportation