The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced Friday that it will remove body-imaging machines that display what some critics have described as naked images of passengers.
"Due to its inability to deploy non-imaging Automated Target Recognition software by the congressionally mandated June 2013 deadline, TSA has terminated its contract with Rapiscan," the division of OSI Systems that provides the technology, according to a TSA statement.
TSA added that "by June 2013 travelers will only see machines which have ATR that allow for faster throughput. This means faster lanes for the traveler and enhanced security. As always, use of this technology is optional."
OSI Systems in a statement confirmed that the Rapiscan machines "would not be ready to meet the next level of ATR software by the congressionally mandated June 2013 deadline."
TSA assistant administrator for acquisitions Karen Shelton Waters told Bloomberg News that the agency in 2012 removed 76 Rapiscan machines and will remove the remaining 174. She further indicated that TSA will use 60 body scanners manufactured by L-3 Communications Holdings.
Source: Business Travel News