A full body scanner is used to reveal objects, including weapons and explosives that could be concealed under clothing.

In order to be scanned, you must be able to walk through the scanner unassisted and lift your arms fully above your head.

Put all of these items in a bin: 

• outer layers of clothing (jackets, coats, sweaters and hats); and
• everything from your pockets (you may hold onto your wallet and passport).

When you enter the scanner, stand with your feet apart and arms extended over your head, with fingertips touching. Hold any remaining personal items in your hand. The scan takes about five seconds.

When the process is complete, exit at the opposite side of the scanner. The scan is reviewed by a screening officer located in a remote viewing room. Once the review is complete, the image will be deleted.

CATSA consulted with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). The OPC is satisfied that the full body scanning process has addressed all of their concerns. For more information, read the Public summary of the Privacy Impact Assessment.

The following strict privacy safeguards are built into CATSA’s use of full body scanners to protect traveller privacy and ensure anonymity: 

• A trained and certified Screening Officer will examine the images from a separate room. This Officer will have no direct view of the traveller before, during or after the screening process.
• The Officer receives no personal information that could associate the image to a particular traveller.
• To further protect traveller privacy, the images are deleted after they are viewed. Images cannot and will not be stored, printed or transmitted.
• The Screening Officer who assists the traveller never sees the image the scanner produces.

The Screening Officer, who is in the separate room, sees an image that resembles a fuzzy photo negative.

No. Images cannot and will not be stored, printed, or transmitted. Each image is deleted from the system once the review is complete.