TSA deploys new body scanners

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The next time you go to the airport, you'll have to walk through the advanced imaging technology. TSA federal security director Brian Cahill says the body scanners are an added layer to help mitigate threats. There are more than 500 of these units across the country. Cahill says the new machines have safe radiation levels and reduce the physical contact between TSA officers and passengers.

"Passenger privacy is of the up most concern to the TSA and is ensured through the anonymity of the image, for instance, the officer tending to the passenger will not be able to view the image, and the officer viewing the image is remotely located and cannot see the actual passenger," said Cahill.

The images on the new body scanners cannot be stored, printed or transmitted and are immediately deleted. It takes about 20 seconds longer, but TSA officials say it will allow for the agency to process more passengers at a time.

Those who wish to opt out will go through a metal detector and be subjected to a pat down.