Dear Airport Authority, TSA, and/or Agencies responsible for security,
As a member of the traveling public who, over the years, has adjusted my habits in order to streamline the airport security experience not only for myself but for fellow passengers, I want it to be known that I will be adjusting my habits again to take in account the use of full body scanners.
Not only will I be wearing pants that don't require a belt and slip on shoes, and sorting all my personals into plastic baggies for easy screening, now I will be checking in my carry-on luggage which, for so many years, has been the only luggage I have had to bring on any trip up to a week in length.
I fully understand the need for security and I appreciate your desire to heighten measures at airports, especially in light of recent events.
I am however, concerned that the way in which your security measures have been implemented are purely reactive and not proactive.
Given the rush in which these scanners have been brought into service, I am concerned that there has not been enough testing done to ensure passenger health and privacy is protected.
I would, therefore, like to make it very clear that should naked images of me appear on the Internet that were derived from the use of the full body scan or if I should acquire any form of medical condition attributed to the twenty or more scans I will be undergoing this year, I may consider taking appropriate legal action and seeking compensation in all of the jurisdictions in which I underwent a scan.
Also note that any other individuals who have undergone similar humiliation or medical distress as a result of the rapid deployment of these scanners will also be invited to join any action launched in these jurisdictions.
This letter is by no means a threat, either intended or implied, but rather a simple acknowledgment that, as a traveler, it appears that I have no choice in whether or not I am screened in this way.
Since I have no choice, should you choose to proceed with screening me, I would expect that you and your agency would take full responsibility for any negative consequences that are related to your use of this technology.
I hope that you have taken the time to ensure that by the time I walk through that full body scan next month, that my genitals will be appropriately obscured and that my fragile DNA will be appropriately protected from mutation causing radiation.
All the best for safe and secure 2010.
Kind Regards,
Stephen Joyce