Belfast's airports 'to install strip search scanners'
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
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EU plans to roll out digital body scanners at airports within two years were described as "Orwellian" last night.
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The millimetre wave imaging scanners are to be used to provide a "virtual strip search" of travellers under "defined conditions", a draft European Commission regulation states.
The regulation -- which would be binding on all EU countries, including Northern Ireland - could be passed into law by the end of April 2010.
The new technology, which creates an image of an unclothed body, was tested on a voluntary basis at Heathrow's Terminal 4, but the trial has now been discontinued. Air passengers scanned by the new technology walk into a large booth where electromagnetic waves are beamed on to their body to create a virtual three-dimensional "naked" image from reflected energy.
Many travellers have been alarmed by the graphic nature of the black and white images body scanners generate -- including revealing outlines of genitalia -- raising concerns about privacy.
Demeaning
Gareth Crossman, the director of policy at the British human rights organisation Liberty, said: "I don't think people are aware of what these scanners can do and how demeaning it is to have your body on display. Heathrow was right to discontinue their use and they should not be used in Britain except as an alternative to strip searches."
Security officials in the US have pioneered use of the scanners at New York and Los Angeles airports because the technology reveals the contours of the body, picking up hidden items, such as guns or knives, more effectively than standard physical "pat-down" checks.
Tony Bunyan, the editor of the civil liberties publication Statewatch, fears that Brussels is rushing to follow the US by introducing a technology that could subject "women, old people and children to such a shameful and undignified experience".
He added: "It would appear that this is yet another case of 'if it is technologically possible it should be used' without any consideration of proportionality, privacy and civil liberties."
Paolo Costa, the chairman of the European Parliament's transport committee, is concerned over the safety of the new technology and how "nude" images of passengers will be viewed, then stored, by security officials.
"What will the impact of the use of body scanners be on passenger health? What will the impact be on passenger privacy?" he asked in a letter to the commission last week.
"How will the image data be held and how will it be destroyed?" he added.
Timothy Kirkhope, a Tory MEP who sits on the transport committee, is concerned that the regulations will be introduced without discussion or consultation with the public.
"It must not be the case that unelected commission officials, or security bureaucrats, can introduce these measures without elected MEPs or MPs being able to say anything about it," he said.
Fine Gael's transport spokesman, Fergus O'Dowd, said the measures were further evidence that we were headed for a nanny state.
"The best word to describe this is Orwellian," he said.
"The problem with any 3D scan is that it will show up the unique characteristics of the human body that really are nobody's business."
Mr O'Dowd added that identity checks such as fingerprinting were fine but the introduction of the digital scanners "would not be appropriate".
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I respect the views of those posters who articulate their right to privacy or especially express fears about paedophiles getting the hold of images of kids. Put all of the rights together and I would venture to state that the right to life is greater than the right to privacy in the context of ensuring the safety of the travelling public.
If these scanners are installed (which looks very likely) those wishing to protect their privacy should travel by other means. The whole raft of human and civil rights and the privileges we have in this democracy are being used against us.
Maybe we should use that other tool of the nanny state - the risk assessment - to judge what the hazards of flying are and identify the extent and likelihood of the risk.
Hazard - terrorist attack on a plane in the air. Likelihood - low. Extent of the risk - extremely high loss of innocent life. So what can we do? Remove or minimise or avoid the hazard? Answers please to the human rights brigade.
Posted by Thos | 03.10.08, 16:47 GMT
I dunno Bob, disregarding any question of why I ever got them done, my piercings are private and I don't much fancy the idea of Joe Bloggs security man getting an intimate view of my nether regions! If I wanted the public to see piercings I'd have got my face done. I too doubt a new breed of paedos would emmerge, but the stored data would be more of an embarrassment than say the job seeker details that were lost if that ever came to be the case. As a citizen of the UK you are also entitled to a right to privacy and not to have to endure degrading treatments, both of which may be violated with these scanners. I would certainly find having my naked body pictured against my will degrading. If it was kept for special screening perhaps yes, but as it stands, I can only see it being useful for pervs to ogle the other sex and get a luagh out of people's bodys. Metal detectors and pat-downs will already sufficiently identify any concealed weapon like a gun or knife.
Posted by Very much anonymous! | 03.10.08, 14:47 GMT
if it prevents someone getting on with a very well concealed weapon so what? I hardly think a new breed of paedos is goin to arise from the scanner pics of kids! I'm all for it, I get nervous enough on a plane without the added worry of terrorism! And dont be ridiculous - its not Orwellian or 1984 in the slightest!
Posted by bob | 03.10.08, 10:40 GMT
Not sure I'm happy about customs staff seeing all the piercings that are for the eyes of only 1 other person. A bit private! The images will be stored of course, and I'm very sure customs staff will have a chuckle at the likes of me. It raises a more serious concern though of what happens with children and this scanner? Surely it's a crazy idea to be taking and storing naked pictures of kids?!?!?! I don't care what security justification there is.
Posted by Very much anonymous! | 02.10.08, 18:42 GMT
If i'm forced to travel under these circumstances I will be seeking legal action against all governmetn bodies involved in passing such legislation of invasion of human rights for dignity and privacy.
I will seek public backing for this legal action in the form of a joint case against these government bodies and would accept no less than compensation for every person/s forced to undergo such scans and for political members to permenantly be removed from political discussions and decision making.
People do have human rights and will act on them, if they are unaware of these rights I will help them understand and help them in their endeavour to retain these rights and seek justice.
There are other ways of identifying terrorists and believe it or not these are already in place, airports don't need anymore security.
Security and airport staff need only do their jobs right.
I recommend that everyone give their objections to a 'human rights organisation' immediately.
Posted by Kieran | 02.10.08, 05:06 GMT
Brilliant idea. Long overdue. Never listen to the himan rights activists. Sometimes I wonder which side they are on. I would rather walk through a digital sensor, as long as it was done professionally and discreet, and no images stored. It beats a strip-search any day of the week,which is totally demeaning. It will speed things up at the airports and give extra security. The only people that worry about these devices are the bad-guys. It is simple, if you have nothing to hide, then why complain.
Posted by canuck | 02.10.08, 02:43 GMT
Maybe this will dissuade fat people from flying.
Posted by Matt | 01.10.08, 23:27 GMT
I bet that there won't be a referendum on this either but our privacy will be eroded away just the same way that the politicians are giving away our freedom and sovereignty to the EU!
Posted by Voice in the Widerness | 01.10.08, 22:38 GMT
If the new machines are installed then maybe the inordinately long delays in getting through 'security' at Belfast International Airport will be reduced. The long-suffering public may even be faced with pleasant security staff - or is that too much to expect?
Posted by Ivan | 01.10.08, 18:30 GMT
This is nothing but a gross and unwarranted invasion of privacy. If I wanted my 'naked' body revealed to complete strangers, I'd work in a strip club or as a pros. As that is not the case, I shall be making every effort to avoid air travel should they install such digital scanners.
He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.
Posted by Mournes | 01.10.08, 17:54 GMT
We need to keep one step ahead of the terrorists who are constantly evolving their schemes and plans for mass murder. Democracy and our rights and freedoms held sacred for so long must be changed as they are being used against us and will ultimately end in our downfall if not amended. The concept of "proportionality of response" goes out the window when terrorist groupings seek to bring planes down out out of the sky or crash planes into iconic or important buildings causing thousands of innocent deaths in one fell swoop.
Posted by Thos | 01.10.08, 16:25 GMT
As long as we all get to see the scans on a big plasma screen with the option to buy copies
Posted by Paul | 01.10.08, 14:22 GMT
1984 - It's all happening slowly!
Posted by Liam | 01.10.08, 13:39 GMT
as long as it dosent give cancer like xrays do... what ever bring it on
Posted by ruby | 01.10.08, 13:28 GMT
I have been through one of these scanners and have little problem with it as long as it provides added security on flights.
My only concerns would be that the scans would be stored, not immediately destroyed, and the potential damage caused by the electromagnetic radiation.
Unlike Mr O'Dowd, I see them as less harmful than fingerprinting.
Posted by robbo | 01.10.08, 13:24 GMT
Mr O'Dowd added that identity checks such as fingerprinting were fine but the introduction of the digital scanners "would not be appropriate".
Too right this would be inappropriate, what about families with kids??? This would be borderline paedophilia...... supported by the government!!! Next thing you know, they'll be recruiting Gary Glitter as a security official!!!
WISE UP!
Posted by William | 01.10.08, 11:24 GMT
Yet another invasion of privacy by these New World Order Goons.
Posted by Dave | 01.10.08, 11:11 GMT
Where the current body 'pat down' given by a same sex security person is necessary but deemed by most to be 'unwanted touching', the digital strip search is offensive and a gross invasion of privacy. I, like many others will forego air travel because of it.
Posted by Chris Co. Down | 01.10.08, 10:40 GMT