Transportation Security Administration Security in the US looks at images created by a full-body scanner / AFP Source: AFP

The move by the US’s Electronic Privacy Information Centre (EPIC) comes amid revelations that some police agencies are storing the images.

The full-body scanners, which are planned to be rolled out around the nation’s airports next year, allow screeners to detect non-metallic devices, objects and weapons concealed on a person's body.

It also reveals body outlines, organs and genitals.

In the past authorities, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), have defended the use of the technology by arguing that all images are discarded after they’re viewed.

However it has been revealed that the US Marshals Service has been saving tens of thousands of images recorded with the scanners at the security checkpoint of a Florida, US, courthouse.

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This may raise implications for travellers, with around 150 of the devices being used in airports around the world.

EPIC is calling for the suspension of the technology until concerns about privacy protection and health effects are addressed.

“Our goal is to suspend the use of full-body scanners in airports as soon possible,” EPIC staff counsel Ginger McCall said.

“TSA needs to remove them immediately and return to the traditional form of airport security until safer and more private technology is in place.”

However the TSA insists that airport staff can't save full-body scanner images as the technology used by the courthouse is "very different".

"The TSA has not, will not, and the machines cannot store images of passengers at airports," a TSA spokesperson said.

"The equipment sent by the manufacturer to airports cannot store, transmit, or print, and operators at airports do not have the capability to activate any such function."

The full-body scanners are no stranger to controversy, with privacy concerns including whether scanned images may breach child pornography laws in various countries.

They have also been criticised as ineffective, with warnings they would be unlikely to detect many of the explosive devices used by terrorism groups.

Scientists have raised concern that radiation from controversial full-body airport scanners has been dangerously underestimated and could lead to an increased risk of skin cancer - particularly in children.

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