TSA Announces All AIT Machines are Equipped with Privacy Filters
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement in response to notification from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole that he will not exercise his option to extend the deadline for equipping Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) units with Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). Because of the efforts of Congressman Thompson, a provision requiring the use of ATR was enacted into law with the signing of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. As of May 16, TSA is in full compliance with the statute and all AIT machines are equipped with ATR. Recently, in January, Congressman Thompson commended TSA's announcement that it would remove all Rapiscan machines (the only machines in the field that were not equipped with ATR).
I applaud TSA for becoming compliant with the law mandating that all AIT machines used by TSA are equipped with up-to-date privacy filters. Because of this action and Congressional oversight, TSA will never again use machines to screen passengers that do not obscure their images while maintaining security.
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