On Friday, December 18, 2015, the Transportation Security Administration tightened its grip on who can and cannot opt-out of their Advanced Imaging Technology screening. What does all that official sounding language actually mean? It essentially means that now some travelers will have no choice but to go through the full body scanners, or be denied access to the boarding area.

Due to heightened security concerns following numerous terrorist attacks throughout the world, the TSA tweeted, on December 22, 2015 that “Generally, passengers undergoing screening will have the option to decline AIT screening in favor of a pat-down. Some passengers will still be required to undergo AIT screening as warranted by security considerations in order to safeguard transportation security.”

If a traveler is designated for mandatory AIT screening, their boarding pass will indicate such.

This revision to the AIT policy was implemented to allow for greater flexibility in responding to imminent security concerns, relying on the element of surprise and randomness, with regard to who will be screened via AIT, and who will not, to trip up would be terrorists.

To read the full Privacy Impact Assessment Update from the Department of Homeland Security, click here.