TSA introduces new checkpoint technology at North Carolina airport

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed millimeter wave technology at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in its new Terminal 2, which opens on 26 October 2008.

Millimeter wave is a whole body imaging system which can detect weapons, explosives and other security threats hidden under clothing without the need for the traditional pat-down. It uses harmless electromagnetic waves to create an image based on the energy reflected from the body. To safeguard passengers' privacy the images are viewed remotely by security officers and the checkpoint officer can then be warned if an alarm is presented. Additionally, passengers' faces are blurred by the application of a security algorithm and the machines do not have storage capacity, therefore images cannot be stored, printed or transmitted, the TSA said.