Introducing TSA-friendly Privacy Enhanced Travel Clothing, From IHF
Monday, December 13, 2010 at 3:45PM 
As the Transportation Security Administration’s airport screening procedures have become increasingly invasive, passengers’ concern for their privacy has grown. That’s why In Hard Focus has teamed up with Betabrand, a San Francisco-based clothing innovator, to create Privates, a new line of privacy-enhanced travel clothing that will protect your privacy from invasive TSA security screening technology.
Sign up now to join the Privates Alpha Group at the Betabrand website. Only 50 intrepid travelers will get to be a part of this elite group of test-pilots. You’ll receive a special prototype pair of Privates Underwear to test-pilot, plus two pairs of production underwear when Privates takes flight. Best of all, you’ll get the fame and satisfaction that comes with test-piloting an important product into existence.
The Privates collection of T-shirts and boxers stands apart from other so-called privacy clothing products on the market. Other products that claim to protect passengers’ privacy from TSA’s advanced imaging technology incorporate metal stickers or patches. However, these products will show up on a scan as unknown objects hidden under a person’s clothing, triggering an enhanced pat-down or even more invasive screening procedures.
Only Privates T-shirts and boxers block airport body scanners in a way that will not get travelers pulled out of line. Privates clothing is treated with a specialized mix of metallic inks and other materials, and printed with a unique “interference” pattern. The result blocks airport body scanners but will not trigger a metal detector or prompt an enhanced pat-down by TSA operators.The unique interference pattern ensures that scanner operators do not confuse a modest, privacy-minded traveler with someone hiding an object under their clothes.
“The secret is in the optimized application of scanner-blocking materials,” said Stephen Russell, security and privacy expert, founder of In Hard Focus and the designer of Privates. “While the pattern and materials are more than enough to obscure and protect your ‘privates’ from prying eyes, they won’t show up with the intensity or structure of a hidden object—something that would get a traveler pulled out of line.”
Privates shield your body from the TSA's advanced imaging technology, ensuring that intrusive images of your “privates” will not be scanned or recorded by airport body scanners.
“People are afraid of airport scanners for good reason,” Russell said. "Who wants TSA employees looking at, and possibly keeping records or scans of, your naked body, like what happened recently at a Florida federal courthouse? But ‘opting out’ is even worse. Enhanced pat-downs are uncomfortable, awkward and can border on molestation.”
Comfortable, fashionable and machine-washable, Privates are 100-percent cotton.
Privacy, Privates, TSA, airport security, backscatter x-rays in TSA 
Reader Comments (19)
All this will do is force a "Touch my junk" pat down.
However, if you want to make a statement, perhaps you could include a message that will show up in the scanner that says something like "I am not a Muslim" or "Thank you Islam for making this necessary" or "Mohammed is a pervert".
Wear it at your own risk, with Pride!
Cheers,
Rick
Whoa Rick! Racist much? The reason the TSA does this is because of people like you! Thank you for that by the way!
There is a reason Rick rhymes with Prick...
Ricks right, he's not racist. Muslim extremists are 100% the reason it has come to this and there is NO argument otherwise
Rick is a racist dick.
Tom is no better either.
No one here is a racist. Islam is not a race.
Fair enough. Religious bigots then.
Actually its due to the destruction caused by a terrorist group called Al- Qaeda, who claim to be doing this for Islam when it is strictly forbidden. A group created funded and founded by the USA. Please argue with me as i can go on all day with a Masters in politics.
So grow up, and get a proper education before you open your mouth and such ignorant and naive nonsense comes out of your mouth and just makes you look like an ignorant cunt.
There's a reason Sam rhymes with "bloviating douche"...
The man asked for an argument, not kindergarten name calling. How old are you, five?
Rick: All this will do is force a "Touch my junk" pat down.
Clearly you didn't read the article carefully enough, Rick.
Article: "Other products ... triggering an enhanced pat-down...."
Article: "Privates ... won’t ... get a traveler pulled out of line.”
You can check the original article that my eliding has not mangled the meaning.
All the rest of you, Rick's initial comment at least attempted to address the article. All you focused on was his attempt at humor in the second half of his comment. Really, what's the point?
-Jesse
It would be interesting to learn how TSA actually responds to this clothing, I wonder if after the test there will be some posting of the results. I am of the belief that TSA will ultimately see this as blocking their screening process and adapt to it.
KM
nigger
So do people realize that the entire reason for the scanners is that people have tried to smuggle bombs onto planes in their clothes? So if you hide what's under your clothes, I don't care what the article tells you, The TSA is GOING to check you. Think of it from their perspective, "What does this person have to hide?" They're not going to let several people on a plane that could have a bomb. I know many people wouldn't use these for a bad purpose, but there will be some that do, and they can't have that. Why don't we Americans stop caring so much about our genitals, since everyone's seen genitals before, and we show them to our doctors all the time. Why is it that genitals are more offensive than the violence in movies and television? Let's show our kids a person getting their head chopped off or tortured, but GOD FORBID they see some nudity.
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink - bookmark this site? Regards, Reader term papers
Actually the reason you are all getting man-handled is because you are too fat, lazy and compliant to do anything about it. It has absolutely nothing to do with Islam or Muslims, and everything to do with conditioning. Wake up America you are being led up the garden path by your government.
very interesting article! I will follow your themes.
Can I subscribe to your posts on Twitter or on your Facebook profile?
Very informative blog post.Much thanks
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