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Security concerns raised about body scanners

22 February 2011

Body scanners at airports in the European Union (EU) could offer potential health risks and infringements of human rights, which need to be examined.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has raised security concerns about rolling out the technology and has warned against its rapid rollout.

Adopted a plenary, the opinion suggests facilities wait until new innovations better suited to purpose are developed, using existing solutions until this time.

The EESC notes the high cost of body scanners is a key issue for adopters, warning they are an invasion of privacy and data collected could infringe human rights if it is not managed properly.

Spanish rapporteur Bernando Hernandez Bataller states: "The European Commission is focused too much on technology and erroneously downplays the importance of enhanced intelligence sharing and human factor analysis."

Last month, the Guardian reported rolling out body scanners at airports in Britain may be in breach of child protection legislation regarding to creation of indecent images of children.