RSSAirport technology showing people's 'private parts' to get scrutiny
By Jacqueline Emigh | Published October 27, 2008, 1:14 PM
Airport full-body scanners which show people's private parts are a lot like a strip search, imposing "a serious impact on the fundamental rights of citizens," according to a resolution passed by European lawmakers late last week.
Although already in use at some airports in the US, the UK, and Netherlands, full-body scanning -- a security technology quite capable of showing people's unmentionables -- might now fade away as a specter facing Americans and other travelers in European airports, due to a lawmakers' vote.
Some airports in Europe, including London's Heathrow and Amsterdam's Schiphol, already make use of full-body scanners, as do some airports in the US.
Proponents of the controversial technology argue that it can detect ceramic knives and other weapons that are invisible to current detectors, while also avoiding the need to "pat down" travelers suspected of carrying items not permitted on planes.
But opponents contend that full-body scanning violates civil liberties by showing a person's private parts to airport security personnel.
A non-binding resolution passed by the European Union on Thursday asks the organization's executive European Commission to prepare an assessment covering the economic, medical and human rights impact of full-body scanners.
Members of the EC asked last month for full body scanners to be added to a list of security measures allowable for use throughout the 27 countries in the EU. However, officials of some countries in the EU, such as Germany, are vehemently against use of the technology.
"I can tell you with complete clarity that we are not going to cooperate with this mischief," a spokesperson for Germany's Interior Ministry said at a government-sponsored press conference on Friday, says an account in the English-language service of Germany's public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
The EU's vote stops short of banning full-body scanning entirely. But 361 lawmakers stood up in favor of conducting a detailed study of the technology before it is used, while only 16 opposed the resolution, with 181 abstaining, according to wire service reports.
I wonder what'll happen if some of these scanner images get 'accidentally' leaked to the Internet.
Score: 0
|We could see if certain domains are already registered(or register them ourselves). :>
www.customsbodyscans.com
www.customcustomsscans.com
www.xxxcustomsscans.com
Score: 0
|Where as I don't agree with this, there are some questions though...
A) If someone under 18 getting on a plane to result in forced child porn (such as it is defined legally)?
B) Since I doubt these scans are passive enough to not be kept for ID purposes, where are these scans stored?
C) How long before it makes more sense to force all people to board planes naked with airline supplied throwaway shoes and medical type gowns?
D) How long before we are all forced into monthly or yearly nude scans as a matter of keeping track of everyone regardless of flying?
E) Doesn't this seem a bit too close to the Nazi's forcing Jews to disrobe during encampment?
Score: 0
|My point exactly.
Score: 0
|I bet Nancy Pelosi will never have to get scanned at the Airport.
Score: 0
|Now on the other hand Sarah Palin would be scaned three times (*)(*)
Score: 0
|how many for Oprah Winfrey or Rossie O'Donnell ???
Score: 0
|They will be able to see internetworld7's vagina ......... I bet he has a Mac Apple lower back tattoo as well.
Score: 0
|lol .... good one
Score: 0
|Shades of "Aiiiirrrrppllllaaaaaaaaannnneee!!!!!"
Score: 0
|Who scans the scanners?
Score: 0
|I just don't see what all the fuss is about, so they can see your privates, who cares. After security see's 10's of thousands of them, I'm sure they could care less anyhow.
Score: 0
|While this is indeed true, where do you draw the line in privacy?
This is removing the line entirely.
Score: 0
|Everybody has at least 2 lines down there. /me Stares at others' lines.
Score: 0
|The 'free' people of the world are slowly loosing their liberties to the growing cloud of fear; to the 'you have to do this or do that or we'll all die' mentality.
Honest people get attacked, groped, accused and detained while the criminals just find a way around it. Criminals don't wait two weeks to get buy a gun or apply for a passport to cross a boarder; they just do it.
How many liberties do you sacrifice before you have none left?
How many personal violation do you suffer before you say enough is enough?
It constantly amazes me how little the world learns from history and how easy it is to taint someones thought process based on the prospect of terror attacks.
When someone or a group of people are appressed enough [no matter the methods]; it's just a matter of time before there is an uprising- a revolt to fight for what is basic human freedoms.
This is happening now; very slowly.
And I hope for and regret that day.
Score: 0
|Seems like a better way of targeting those "p**** enlargement" spam messages..
Score: 0
|And what exactly was wrong with the pat-down?
It's less invasive than some weirdo watching everyone jiggle past his screen.
Score: 0
|lol true.
Score: 0
|Obviously you never went through a 'pat down' in provincial India...
Score: 0
|Heh, no.
It's best not to suggest you have a bomb on the way through, you know.
Score: 0
|