Return of the airport body scanners

Body scanners could be coming to an airport near you. Rejected three years ago, the EU parliament has now done a U-turn and said the controversial equipment can be used in airports across Europe, but only under strict criteria.

Safeguards include no images being kept, and for health reasons, no X-ray based scanners being used. Passengers will also have the option of being body searched, instead of being screened.

The head of the EU Transport Committee Luis de Grandes Pascual said: ‘‘Dignity, privacy and health are protected, It’s also guaranteed that no personal data of any kind can be stored since it’s destroyed immediately. Moreover, there’s no technology capable of storing it.’‘

MEP’s also agreed that the ban on carrying liquids on planes should be lifted by 2013 with adequate technology in place at airports so security would not be undermined.

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