Checking in on 'Privates' Privacy-enhanced Underwear

With the TSA security screening controversy starting to heat up again, InHardFocus decided it was time to update readers on Privates, the line of privacy-enhanced underwear that helps ensure passengers' modesty -- and safety -- in today's airport security environment.

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 Privates Test Pilots have been hard at work testing the underwear in the real world. Three months into the Privates Alpha Group project, Betabrand, the clothing innovator that helped create the line, has reported no issues. 

Steve Russell, security expert, IHF editor and the designer of Privates, tested one of the first pairs of the production-ready underwear recently when he was traveling through San Francisco International Airport. 

"I was wearing my Privates when I went through an L3 body scanner in the international terminal of SFO," he said. "I didn't get pulled out of line -- and I went through twice to make sure."

Russell also went through a metal detector and was further inspected by a TSA agent with a handheld metal detector -- both with no incidents or beeps. 

Privates may also help protect passengers from harmful radiation. Since TSA stepped up its screening procedures, question about the safety of the enhanced imaging technology have gone unanswered. TSA officials are dragging their feet to release scanner safety reports; in the meantime, it's up to individual passengers to ensure their own safety and privacy.