Europe eyes airport X-ray vision
By Chris Mason
BBC News, Strasbourg

As if queuing for ages, emptying pockets and taking off shoes at the airport was not enough - now there are fears images of European airline passengers will be flashing up on a computer screen in all their glory - minus their clothes.

The European Commission insists the proposals are at an early stage and would not be mandatory.

But there are nonetheless concerns among some in the European Parliament about the effect the scanners could have on human rights, data protection and personal dignity. The images, while not quite of photo quality, do not leave much to the imagination. For most people, airport security staff would likely get to know you rather better than you might like.

'Ill conceived'

"This measure is unnecessary, unjustified and invasive," said Irish Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun. "The commission has brought forward this plan without assessing the impact on fundamental rights or human health or even if they are cost-efficient. This is an ill-conceived plan."

"Tens of millions of people around European airports would be digitally photographed, almost as if there were naked", Marco Cappato, Italian Liberal MEP.

The European Commission says it is precisely its role to ensure the scanners are not unnecessarily invasive - by drawing up a rule book for how the devices, which are already used in a limited capacity by some airports, must be operated.

Where the technology is currently available, air security officials can pick out individuals to stand in a booth while three pictures are taken of the person in slightly different positions.

Within seconds, an X-ray scanner produces an image of the body.

What shows up is the naked human form and anything that may be concealed, such as coins, a gun or drugs.

'Virtual strip search'

A European Commission spokesman told the BBC that a wider roll-out of the technology would not only enhance safety and security, but would also have the potential to speed up the check-in process, as passengers would not need to be searched by security officials. But concerns remain that the safeguards remain vague, and that MEPs have not been sufficiently consulted.

Philip Bradbourn, home affairs spokesman for the British Conservatives, says the scanners amount to a "virtual strip search" and are being rushed in.

"The European Commission is attempting to introduce these measures without consulting national governments or MEPs, and that is simply unacceptable given the considerable concerns," he said. "There is a growing anxiety that the EU is seen as a tool for challenging basic liberties, without the usual scrutiny and accountability provided at the ballot box."

He and other critics acknowledge the potential security benefits, but insist that is not enough.

"I am against the idea of deciding one way or the other without a proper analysis of risks and eventual benefits from the point of view of health, privacy and security," Italian Liberal MEP Marco Cappato told the BBC.

"Tens of millions of people around European airports would be digitally photographed, almost as if there were naked."

Step forward Antonio Tajani, Europe's transport commissioner.

He is attempting to persuade MEPs this is not being rushed through, will not happen in every airport anytime soon, and the necessary safeguards will be a priority.

But for many MEPs, he has plenty of convincing to do.

They'd still have to hire extra security - to shoo away the people trying to peek at the monitors.

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What a sad state we find ourselves in today!

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Didnt we (the US) just go through this with the "millimeter wave" xray machines ? I never looked into it, but from what I remember, the screen with naked people had to be in another room (seperate from the porn-generating machine itself) - so the people near the potential porn starts, had to radio'd or buzzed or something if the porn-scan revealed anything terroristic ?


-John

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Like what? multiple piercings down below or some 8 inch cylinder with 2 C cells hidden in the abdomen?

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alright...

biased link 1

biased link #1

biased link #3

I'm not going to argue the previous methodology or effectiveness of airport security - IMHO - if I get on a plane that someone blows up, it was my time to go, also- my wife and sons will be able to pay off the house, her car, and set up some nice college fund.... but thats beside the point.

What are they going to find ? I think that if they can turn normal people into naked people, they can find anything they want. This can be a good or bad thing (just like words, guns and thoughts)

What I can't seem to find (and was asking of this thread, although in an obtuse manner) was the resolution. From what I can tell, these machines got installed in US airports (PHX and Miami IIRC) and the ACLU issued a statement saying "we don't like it". And thats it. No court challenges, no lawsuits from women who found themselves pictured on the internet without their permission, no denoument (sp -4). Its as if the issue were not a big enough deal for the ACLU/lawyers to pursue.

...and if it wasnt (I'm not sure of this) then its up to Europe to carry the civil rights flag...or let it die like their American ACLU buddies (?), And we the people will just live with another "invasion of privacy/security measure"

Any progress on this story in the US ?

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

The only progress is that it's progressing. Last I heard about them, is just that they were going to put more in.
I'll take my chances with terrorists. I'm more scared of lightning striking me or drowning in a bathtub.

Great! Free full body CT scans! Just like those executive healthcare thingamabobs.

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