Update: The % has increased to 98.67%

In a U.S. News & World Report online survey, 95% of travellers think the U.S.'s TSA has gone too far with it's policies of invasive pat-downs that have become grope-downs, and scanners that produce naked-like photos of travellers, using radiation.

Survey respondents were asked, "Is TSA going too far with air security measures?" (survey results ; poll)

In addition to the required airport security stops, the TSA has started stopping travellers in bus and metro stations, requiring them to be searched, with recent deployments in Tampa and Washington, D.C., with the support of local police departments and government transit organizations, which are being trained to support further roll-out of these search stops.

The TSA's scanners use radiation which causes damage to DNA, according to scientists. While TSA administrators have compared the radiation to the sun's radiation, the radiation employed by the machine is different and affects the body and skin differently. No extensive medical tests have been performed with such kinds of radiation, leading scientists to report that its effect on travellers, including children, pregnant women and the elderly, is likely very different from radiation from the sun. It is possible that TSA-scanner-induced cancer could kill more people than have been killed by terrorists.

In contrast with the untested deployment of the radiation scanners to airports across the U.S., significant medical testing over a period of years would normally be required of a private company to get FDA approval for a new medical pill.

While the TSA continues to say that the machines cannot record images, the machines do have that capability in accordance with the specifications required by the government in their purchase.

TSA agents viewing the scanner photos are permitted to bring cell phones with cameras into their work area. They are also able to communicate verbally with agents bringing passengers into the machines, which has led to a number of unprofessional comments being overheard. TSA agents also have access to security camera videos of the scanner area, enabling them to match faces to scans at a later time.