Senate approves Tester’s measure to criminalize misuse of airport body scans

Senator calls on House of Representatives to follow lead in protecting Americans’ freedoms

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to approve his plan to criminalize any misuse of air body scan images by Transportation Security Administration employees:

“Today’s vote is a huge victory for the privacy rights of all Americans.  Montanans understand the need for safety when we board an airplane—but we can provide safety without trampling on our freedoms.  This legislation is a good balance.  I call on the House of Representatives to use this same common sense approach to protect both the security and the privacy of Americans when they travel.”

Tester, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, introduced his legislation in December to criminalize the misuse of body scan images.

Employees of federal agencies like the IRS and the Social Security Administration are already prohibited by law from distributing citizens’ private information.  Tester’s measure would similarly ban the distribution of body-scan images taken in airports or any other federal buildings.

Federal employees who illegally record or distribute body-scan images would face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Tester, an outspoken advocate for Americans’ privacy rights, has posted the Security Screening Privacy Act on his website, HERE.