Gone are the days where you had a guaranteed right to opt for a physical pat down at the airport rather than passing through a body scanner. A new Department of Homeland Security policy change allows the Transportation and Security Administration to, at their sole discretion, force travelers to go through body scanners before boarding a flight, reported Gizmodo.
"TSA is updating the [Advanced Imaging Technology] PIA to reflect a change to the operating protocol regarding the ability of individuals to opt out of AIT screening in favor of physical screening," DHS wrote in its updated protocol quietly released Dec. 18.
"While passengers may generally decline AIT screening in favor of physical screening, TSA may direct mandatory AIT screening for some passengers."
Under the previous policy, many travelers chose to opt out of the body scanners, either as way to protest a perceived violation of their Fourth Amendment rights, or out of fear that the technology could see them naked or deliver unsafe doses of radiation. They would then be required to undergo a thorough physical screening by a TSA agent, according to USA Today.
And while you still can request to opt out of the body scanner, "some passengers will still be required to undergo AIT screenings as warranted by security considerations in order to safeguard transportation security," a TSA representative told TIME. It's not clear what security considerations would warrant a forced screening.
DHS says that the new AIT scanners do not generate or retain underlying images of individuals and only display generic images if there is something suspicious on an individual's body. DHS argues that the machines are more capable than TSA officials at detecting prohibited, non-metallic items that could be hidden under multiple layers of clothing.
