Love New Tech? Sign Up for 'Privates' Test-Pilot Program!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 7:08AM 
Enthusiastic early adopters love being on the cutting-edge of new technology trends. And Privates is a tech trend unlike any other.
A joint venture between In Hard Focus and Betabrand, a San Francisco-based clothing innovator, Privates is a line of privacy-enhanced travel clothing that protects your privacy from the Transportation Security Administration's advanced imaging technology.
Privates boxers and T-shirts are ideal for any modest traveler -- and for those citizens who are simply fed up with TSA's "choices" between the virtual strip search and the enhanced pat-down. Because for many travelers, it's the principle of the thing. And Privates is the ideal way to show TSA exactly how you feel.
“People are afraid of airport scanners for good reason,” said Steve Russell, security and privacy expert and the designer of Privates. “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.”
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 secret is in the optimized application of scanner-blocking materials,” Russell explained. “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.”
Intrepid passengers can join the Privates Alpha Group to become one of 50 test-pilots. They’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, they’ll get the fame and satisfaction that comes with test-piloting an important product into existence. Privates will be available generally in early 2011.
Here's your chance to be at the forefront of an amazing technology and security trend. Sign up now to become a Privates Test-Pilot on the Betabrand website!
Privates, TSA, airport security, millimeter wave technology in TSA 
Reader Comments (55)
Have fun getting strip searched when they can't scan you in those. Just get the pat down if you're so opposed to the scanners. I don't see what the big deal is anyways. Do you really think the person sitting behind the screen is interested in seeing your scan besides looking for any dangerous objects? They're going to see probably six hundred people a day, five days a week, male and female. Out of 3000 people in a week, what makes you so special, that you think they're going to actually want to see your scans for more than the purpose of doing their job?
I agree, this seems like a great way to get strip searched.
However, I am still skeptical of the safety of the technology. You have a lot of people saying it's safe, but there are an equal number saying it isn't. I will wait and see if pilots and flight attendants start dropping dead of cancer and opt out for now.
Not that I personally care but there is that whole violation of the 4th amendment thingy.
I don't see what the big deal with scans and pat-downs is. If you don't want to be subject to security measures feel free to take a bus or a boat. Having your privates seen or felt by poorly trained "security personnel" on a regular basis is a small price to pay for security. What are they going to complain about next? Unwarranted wiretaps? Arbitrary "catch and release"? pervasive and invasive video surveilance?
If you didn't catch the irony and sarcasm you really need to pull your head out of your "junk" and get it scanned properly.
Agree with first commenter. This is the Spotlight Effect. No one is paying attention to you.
How hard could it be? Just don't travel to US of A if you are a european like me, or just don't leave if you are borne there...everyone wins exept american tourist destinations... Europe is great, and I don't have to be harrased by the american government.... but I like that you americans are geting fed up with it! Seems like the terrorist have won, beacause of them you are now controlled in every possible way by your own government.
@Espen - You must not travel much in Europe either then. They have the same technology in Amsterdam, Germany and the UK along with British Columbia. While it's fashionable to US of A bash this isn't a US vs. Europe issue. The same technology is gaining traction around the globe.
yeah, they see tons of people everyday, no need to hide anything.
What about simple dignity, privacy and rights? This do nothing bureaucracy that our good friend Bush set up is just softening us up for the Brownshirts. Israel does not scan, pat or scope anyone at airports, do you think our security situation is worse that theirs? I have quit flying except for family emergencies. The terrorists have won.
Ever wonder what might happen if several people who are waiting in the To Be Scanned line at every airport would sing the following SONG.
Oh O Oh,
Just Say No!,
You can do it,
Yes you can,
Oh O Oh,
Let everyone know
Freedom of Speech,
to Just Say NO,
Oh O Oh,
You can do it!,
Yes you can,
Just Say No
(repeat the verse)
Now IMAGINE this song flowing from the voices of everyone in that line?
Speaking of Israel, their security is much more effective without any invasive, expensive and/or time consuming measures. When was the last time El-Al plane was hijacked or bombed?
Considering the recent revelation that TSA workers have been bashing anti TSA sites, I can't help but feel the first half of comments on here are a little too accepting!
Interesting clothes, though.
everyone who complains about this body scan thing is an insecure pussy.... you have the same shit under your clothes as every other human.... unless its a bomb. you cry babies need to get over your selves and realize... who gives a shit? grow the fuck up, and maybe save some lives
@person: You have the same asshole as everyone else, so how about a compulsory rectal exam? If you are too squeamish to bend over for our part-time security "experts", we'll offer a colonoscopy performed by certified physicians under full anesthesia. You have nothing to fear or be ashamed off if you are not a terrorist.
It's not about someone not being comfortable with someone else seeing or feeling up their "junk", it's about invading people's privacy and sanctity of their body for the sake of false security. Whether it's saving any lives is up for discussion, but It's violating people's rights whichever way you look at it.
Once again, there are much better and less invasive ways to achieve high levels of security in air travel. US does not need to look any further than their protege Israel.
Ray... British Columbia is in Canada.You know that big country right above the USA, Not Europe ...gotta love the American educational system. Could you pick your own country out on a map or would you pick Russia 'cuz its the biggest it haz ta be !!! USA is #1! '
It would be nicer when they developped cloth able to disguise non-bodyparts as just bodyparts.
ive travelled around Europe a lot and never had to go through one of these
You are all idiots, it's an illusion of security, not actual security. If it was, there'd be no need for these scanners, because we would've stopped the hijackers, and the bombers. Stop being so naive and trusting that the TSA has your best interests at heart. Most of them are too stupid to remember to breathe or swallow. They are the farthest thing from experts, or even professionals that I have ever been around.
this is so ridiculous
I am a pilot I would like to be test pilot..
-First the US Government and its cohorts kill their own peple at 9/11, then they bring in all of these new schemes to stop terrorism, The US Gov are the terrorists here, look at what they have done and are doing to the world. and we all sit back and let it happen. God help us. Bring in ET.
Israel doesn't scan or pat you because they already know everything about you before you step foot in the airport. Where you've been, who you visited, what you ate.... Tell me that American's wouldn't go batcrap crazy over that and I'll laugh in your face.
You are saying Israelis have a Big Brother state that monitors everyone 24/7 and Americans don't? I don't know which of those two statements is more ridiculous.
To the American Fucktards amongst us - it's not about the choice to get patted down or strip searched. If your foreign policies weren't so retarded, you wouldn't have this choice in the first place. Bomb America, I say.
It is not true that Europe use these invasive scanners. Nor it is true that is gaining traction in other countries. Where did you get this from???
Who cares if someone sees your privates? Chances are those are people you will never see again. Besides, everybody has genitals so their not seeing anything that interesting. Just go through the damm scanner so the line moves faster, this has become a huge problem in busy airports like O'hare where security can take up to 2 hours. If you wear this thing the TSA will notice you don't have any genitals, that will look a lot more suspicious and you'll get thoroughly "groped" at a pat-down instead. Plus it doesn't look very comfortable to wear.