Holland says yes to airport body scanners
Posted: Sun 26th Oct 2008 05:39 am
Holland says yes to airport body scanners
25th October, 2008
Dutch politicians have expressed little opposition to the airport 'naked' body scanners which have met with angry resistance or incredulity elsewhere in the European Union.
The appliances, being tested at Amsterdam's Schipol airport, were 'absolutely discreet', Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin was quoted as saying.
'Personally, I'd be for them, and make use of them,' the Christian Democrat politician said, adding that he had seen them in action at Schipol, where they have been tested since May 2007.
The scanners, which scan beneath clothing to detect non-metallic weapons or explosives, do not expose the face of the scanned person.
Dutch leftist and liberal politicians, while criticising the scanners, have not rejected them outright, but insist that clear and strict rules apply to their use is introduced EU-wide.
German politicians Friday expressed across-the-board opposition to EU plans for the full-body scanners to be used.
On Thursday, Germany's federal police said it would start studying the devices to establish if they are a threat to health or if they breach German privacy laws.
Proponents say the scanners can detect ceramic knives and plastic explosives which are invisible to current detectors, and also avoid the need for guards to pat down travellers with their hands.
Germany's main political parties criticise the scanners as a threat to people's personal privacy.
The EU's top justice official, Jacques Barrot, insisted Friday that the use of such scanners would be on a strictly voluntary basis.
Body scanners were also defended by French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who chaired the meeting in Luxembourg on behalf of the EU presidency.
Body scanners are currently being tested at London's Heathrow as well as Schiphol, and the European Commission is considering extending their use throughout the 27-member bloc.
Civil rights advocates fear that the images they produce could one day start circulating on the Internet.
Source
25th October, 2008
Dutch politicians have expressed little opposition to the airport 'naked' body scanners which have met with angry resistance or incredulity elsewhere in the European Union.
The appliances, being tested at Amsterdam's Schipol airport, were 'absolutely discreet', Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin was quoted as saying.
'Personally, I'd be for them, and make use of them,' the Christian Democrat politician said, adding that he had seen them in action at Schipol, where they have been tested since May 2007.
The scanners, which scan beneath clothing to detect non-metallic weapons or explosives, do not expose the face of the scanned person.
Dutch leftist and liberal politicians, while criticising the scanners, have not rejected them outright, but insist that clear and strict rules apply to their use is introduced EU-wide.
German politicians Friday expressed across-the-board opposition to EU plans for the full-body scanners to be used.
On Thursday, Germany's federal police said it would start studying the devices to establish if they are a threat to health or if they breach German privacy laws.
Proponents say the scanners can detect ceramic knives and plastic explosives which are invisible to current detectors, and also avoid the need for guards to pat down travellers with their hands.
Germany's main political parties criticise the scanners as a threat to people's personal privacy.
The EU's top justice official, Jacques Barrot, insisted Friday that the use of such scanners would be on a strictly voluntary basis.
Body scanners were also defended by French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who chaired the meeting in Luxembourg on behalf of the EU presidency.
Body scanners are currently being tested at London's Heathrow as well as Schiphol, and the European Commission is considering extending their use throughout the 27-member bloc.
Civil rights advocates fear that the images they produce could one day start circulating on the Internet.
Source
so no radiation or microwaves or whatever for me 