The European Commission has adopted rules that define the circumstances under which member states bodyscanners are allowed to use. Among others, the Netherlands was, until recently, concerned with the testing of this security measure.
The regulations of the European Commission leaves member states to choose whether they bodyscanners use or not. With these scanners, passengers can on weapons to be checked. Earlier, the European Parliament gave already green light for the use of the scanners, provided that certain conditions were met.
Among others, the Netherlands has the use of bodyscanners examined. “The scanners are a valuable alternative to the existing methods. They are effective in the detection of metal and non-metal materials,” explains european Commissioner Siim Kallas of Estonia in a statement. In 2009, attempted terrorist, a plane from Amsterdam to Detroit flew to blow up with plastic explosives.
In the Netherlands, the scanners, the standard for trans-Atlantic flights. A future roll out to other flights and airports currently stands, however, is not fixed. “Airports can decide whether or not the scanners are going to use, as they are the safety of the passengers but be able to guarantee. That can except with a bodyscan with search,” says spokesman Edmond Messchaert of the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice.
The commission suggests that several requirements prevent the privacy and health of passengers in the proceedings. So, it is forbidden to images of body scans have been to print, distribute and store. Also, the officer who scans checks in a different room. In addition, passengers who prefer to have nothing to do with the device, opt for an alternative control.
The European Commission prohibits scanners that use x-rays. All other techniques are said to be allowed. In the United States it was a year ago, the fuss about the possible consequences for the health of the passengers. The authorities claimed at the time that the impact of the millimeterwave scanners, however, thousands of times less than that of a mobile phone.
Update 14:06 – comment Edmond Messchaert added.