Body scanners
MEPs vote to restrict use of body scanners in airports and exclude x-ray technology
The EP transport committee today adopted a report on the use of body scanners in airports (Grandes report). The Greens welcomed the outcome, after Green amendments calling for stricter conditions on the use of body scanners were adopted, notably the exclusion of x-ray technology. After the vote, Green transport spokesperson Eva Lichtenberger MEP said:
"MEPs have today voted to put the interests of citizens first in the debate on the use of controversial body scanning technology. The EP transport committee has made clear that body scanners should only be authorised for use in airports, under the condition that appropriate rules are in place to safeguard the health and fundamental rights of passengers. There are serious concerns about the potential impacts of the widespread use of body scanners - in airports and beyond - both in terms of privacy and public health and these cannot be ignored.
"Crucially, MEPs have supported proposals to exclude the use of x-ray technology in body scanners. There are very real health concerns associated with this technology and there is simply no valid reason to justify its deployment in airports. The committee also called for any data to be immediately deleted, as well as for the exclusion of profiling."
