Web Sites Display Stolen N-a-k-e-d Full Body Scan Images!

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
Date: December 30, 2009 1:05:41 PM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Web Sites Display Stolen N-a-k-e-d Full Body Scan Images!



       Web Sites Display Stolen N-a-k-e-d Full Body Scan Images!

              http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000659.html


Greetings.  Here's a "fun" question to think about as we get ready to
close out 2009.  With politicians clamoring for massive deployment of
full body scanners at airports, how long do you imagine it will take
before we start to see headlines like the title of this posting,
inappropriately blaming the Internet generally and Search Engines in
particular for the mess that these scanners are likely to create?

Subscription sites for body scan celebrity images (and different sorts
of sites focused on imagery of children) would seem inevitable, as
well as more routine "gawking at the big breasts" sites.

Despite claims of privacy improvements, most of these full body
scanners still present imagery in astonishing detail 
( http://bit.ly/7OtQdO ).

Getting the images to the outside world will be relatively
straightforward, despite the claims that images aren't recorded and
that observers will be isolated.

When there's money to be made, it will be done.

Saving the images should be pretty easy.  The observers simply need
any sort of small (and you can get them teeny tiny these days!)
digital image capture device that they can use to shoot images
directly from the scanner display screens.  If camera cell phones
aren't allowed in the "naked body observation chambers," any of many
other minuscule digital image devices -- if necessary easy to sneak in
using the same sorts of techniques that would-be terrorists will use
to defeat the body scanners -- can be employed.

Observers can snap images of general or specific interest for the
amusement of friends and family, and for local posting on nearby
walls, then upload the best ones to the Web sites later. "Wow, take a
look at the [blank] on that [blank] -- Whooo!"

Celebrity shots (including politicians of course) would require a bit
of coordination.  The easiest way would be to simply have an associate
near the body scanners to allow for matching up images (based on time
of scan) after the fact.  "Yeah, Senator Bilbo and his family came
through at 8:05.  You got those?  Great!"  Real-time signaling using a
variety of easily accessible means will often be another possibility
of course, depending on the logistical set up at any given airport.

Sound far fetched?  Too complicated?  Nobody would bother?

Given human nature ... ya' really wanna bet?

Oh, and by the way, while the body scanners will probably be great at
finding nail clippers that the magnetometers missed, you definitely
can rest assured that any serious terrorists will either (a) target
the wide variety of venues other than airports and/or (b) hide their
explosives through a variety of uncomfortable but certainly not novel
methods that these body scanners can't touch, including orifice
insertions, and external masking techniques taking advantage of the
limitations of these scanners.

When it becomes obvious how easily the current body scanners can be
defeated by determined terrorists, are we ready for full strength,
full-body x-rays and/or routine body cavity searches for the privilege
of flying?  Because those are the obvious next steps that are already
in use among other "captive" audiences (such as inmates).

The only real cure for terrorism is coordinated intelligence -- in the
IQ, political, and "three-letter agency" senses.  Trying to scan and
search terrorists out of existence makes for a fine show and votes in
the next election, but simply guarantees that those persons who hate
us will adjust their techniques and targets to render our expensive
and depersonalizing anti-terror scanning efforts ever more impotent
and useless.

--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren () vortex com
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
  - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, NNSquad
  - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition 
  for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org
Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein






-------------------------------------------
Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now
RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/
Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com