New body scanners see through clothes

BEFORE READING

1. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

1.	searched	a.	hiding
2	mainly	b.	reach
3.	concealing	c.	touching
4.	devices	d.	created
5.	patting	e.	freedoms
6.	raised	f.	frisked
7.	liberties	g.	machines
8.	safeguards	h.	appeal
9.	temptation	i.	precautions
10.	end up on	j.	largely

Travellers at two US airports will soon be searched by new high-tech scanners. International airports in Los Angeles and New York have installed digital body scanners that can ‘see through’ clothing. The new machines will mainly search for weapons and explosives. They use the very latest technology, called millimeter wave imaging. Radio waves create a 3-D image of someone’s body to see if they are concealing anything dangerous. Government officials say the new equipment will make air travel safer. A spokesperson said: “Imaging devices are not a brand new security tool, but they are a brand new security tool for airports.” There are plans to install the devices in another 30 airports across the country. An official promised that passengers will prefer the scanner to a security guard patting their body.


The new technology has raised questions by privacy groups, who believe the scanning process is too detailed. They say the device can see too much of the naked body. A civil liberties spokesman said it was the same as a virtual strip search. He warned: “We need to make sure there are good safeguards. The temptation is great not to follow procedures when a celebrity or someone well-known is involved.” One female passenger at LA airport suggested that only female operators should be allowed to scan female passengers. She said she was highly embarrassed to see a male official looking at the digital image of her body. She was also worried the scanned images could end up on the Internet. It seems it’s only a matter of time, however, before the machines replace metal detectors.

COMPREHENSION 

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	All international airports will soon have high-tech body scanners.	T / F
b.	The main purpose of the scanners is to prevent terrorist attacks.	T / F
c.	The scanners are a brand new tool for the global security industry.	T / F
d.	An official said people will prefer metal detectors to the body scanner.	T / F
e.	Civil liberties groups are concerned about people’s privacy.	T / F
f.	A civil libertarian said a full strip search was preferable to the scanner.	T / F
g.	The civil libertarian was worried about celebrities and famous people.	T / F
h.	A passenger wondered whether body images would be posted online.	T / F