TSA Defends, Ramps Up Security with New Body Scanners

Transportation Security Administration

Next time you fly, you might find yourself undergoing a full body scan -- digitally, that is. The Transportation Security Administration is ramping up use of body scanners, a technology that takes x-ray and electromagnetic pictures of a passenger's body, in response to the Christmas Day bomb scare on Northwest Airlines Flight 253. Body scanners can currently be found in 23 airports, such as Chicago O'Hare International, Los Angeles International, and Boston Logan International, according to the TSA. Last month, the TSA deployed more than 100 new scanners with plans to install another 1,000 by the end of 2011, increasing the number of airports with the scanners to 29.