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THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION today adopted a range of guidelines governing the use of controversial body scanners in airports across the 27 member states.
The Commission said in a statement that the new legislation lays down “strict operational and technical conditions” for the use of such scanners which also aim to protect health and fundamental rights.
A number of member states including the Netherlands and Britain have been testing or using the full-body scanning technology since the Christmas Day ‘underwear bomber’ attempted to blow up a plane flying from Amsterdam to Detroit using explosives hidden in his pants in 2009.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie today, a spokesperson for the Dublin Airport Authority said that its body scanners are “fully compliant with those regulations”.
However, an 18-month-long testing period of the scanners will not begin at the airport until early next year. The testing, which involves airport staff only, was expected to get underway late this year.
The DAA spokesperson said that no decision has been made on whether the scanners would be used in public spaces yet and no decision would be made on that issue until after the test period has been completed.
The images generated by the device at Dublin Airport will be similar to those produced by scanners used in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (shown in the photo above).
Restrictions
The EU Commissioner responsible for transport Siim Kallas said today that “security scanners are not a panacea but they do offer a real possibility to reinforce passenger security.”
“Security scanners are a valuable alternative to existing screening methods and are very efficient in detecting both metallic and non-metallic objects,” he added.
The legislation does not compel member states to use the scanners, but outlines the standards which must be met for them to be used within the EU. Under the rules, scanners shall not be permitted to store, retain, copy, print or retrieve images. Any human reviewer analysing the image should be viewing it from a separate place and the image should not be linked to the screen person.
Only scanners which do not use x-ray technology will be permitted for passenger screening at EU airports.
Passengers should also be advised that they can opt out of the scan and be subject to an alternative security check, such as a pat-down by security staff.
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Hmmm it can detect explosive pants. Could be a problem after a full irish with beans on the side…
I really love living in the ‘free world’.
Where can I get fitted for a tinfoil suit?
Unknown to myself I accidentally brought a 6in kitchen knife on a flight from cork recently. It was in my carry ob bag from a previous picnic and I didn’t know it was there. Found it two days later while abroad. It was never picked up by X-ray at the airport. Shocking they missed it.
They should try getting the simple things right before upgrading the technology
Similar thing happened me.
are they gona have special areas Blanked out? there were cases in the USA where security officers were laughing at peoples bodies…
Dublin does not need body scanners. There are no threats against Ireland.
Oh dear.. For a start anybody who knows anything about the so called underwear bomber will know it was a scam. He was escorted onto the plane with no passport with plastic explosive in his pants and no detonator ensuring it could never explode.
The scanners themselves are generally considered highly dangerous and cancer rates amoungst tsa staff at Boston, the original installation have skyrocketed. They deserve it, we don’t…
The so called patdowns in US allow staff to direct feel your genitals and your kid’s too. Nice job if you are a pervert or paedo.. Will you allow a stranger feel your wife or daughters privates in the name of stopping non existant terrorists. If not then you can’t fly…
These sort of repressive humiliating security techniques are directly from nazi Germany. As a matter of fact they didn’t molest their citizens.. Also in the US they now on motorways and bus terminals.
Am I the only one who feels more and more like a debt prisoner everyday…
Agreed Ed. These ‘Feel Me Ups’ Are a form of phsychological disempowerement. Theyre trying to break us down to keep us in our place. They have guilotine on their minds and were brickin’ it for a while until they got people against the occupiers throught the presstitiutes( Fox, RTE etc.)- take a look at the army of 700-1000 police in Oakland today. I keep saying it in my comments, Fascism has come to America and its affecting us.
Would you claim to be a civilized person yourself Ed, when you say “They deserve it(cancer)”. Wow, that says it all.
I read about how they removed an elderly citizens incontinence diaper and made them fly commando because they didn’t have a spare in their hand luggage.. That’s the ultimate indignity.. It’s disgusting..
I can appreciate they need to protect security, but have they any concept of the line between protection and invading your rights? I don’t think so..
Oaklane1…Anybody who takes a job that involves publicall humiliating innocent passengers by groping their sexual organs and especially touching up young children in the name of protecting my freedom is the scum of the earth.. period.. They will get their just deserves standing by the scanner all day…
You can excuse them, but its sexual assault in my book, and saying you have choice not to fly or go through a terahertz microwave oven isnt my preference, so you go ahead a get your free groping and enjoy it.. I will stand up for what is right and decent… So yes it says it all and I feel proud of the fact that I have spine and call it for what it is..
Let there be no doubt that once again this is about making money and oppressing your freedom (as is dumping billions of banker debt on your shoulders). Others can ignore it and keep watching xfactor, but you can explain it to your kids when their time comes. “Mammy says its OK for the strange mam to undress you and touch you up in public”. Thanks sheeple for allowing this to happen, and people say I’m a conspiracy theorist, but this is the exact reson we had a second world war, to stop governments opressing and humiliating the people… whats next God knows
Better tone those love handles up ha
Ed, I respect and applaud your right to object to the methods of the tsa but I do object to you classifying them all as child molestors and wishing cancer upon them.
I’m gutted . Was so looking forward to waiting in the queue for hours more than usual while they scan a granny to within an inch of her life. The liquids ban is also a joke and was kept in place because it was better for business airside.
have your say