ATLANTA — The TSA on Tuesday said it is testing new “advanced imaging technology” (AIT) at three airports nationwide, including Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The new technology “enhances privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images and instead auto-detects potential threat items and indicates their location on a generic outline of a person,” the TSA said in a news release. The new machines were introduced following a wave of criticism aimed at full-body scanners that take detailed images of travelers.
“We are always looking for new technology and procedures that will both enhance security while strengthening privacy protections,” TSA Administrator John Pistole said in a news release. “Testing this new software will help us confirm test results that indicate it can provide the same high level of security as current advanced imaging technology units while further enhancing the privacy protections already in place.”
The TSA started testing the technology at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport on Tuesday and will soon begin testing at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Federal officials contend the new technology will increase efficiency as TSA employees will no longer need to view passenger-specific images in a separate room.