May 15th, 2007
Amsterdam's Schiphol starts body-scanning at airport
Ultramodern Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam today began using new body-scanning technology at security checkpoints on, the first major airport to use the technology, Reuters reports.
Going through the scanner takes about three seconds, allowing users to avoid metal detectors or body searches. For privacy, the digital images are viewed by security personnel in another room and deleted after they are viewed. … So far the security scan is voluntary but officials are hoping to expand it to include all passengers, crew and personnel.
Some people object to the machines, not because of privacy concerns but because of worries about radio waves, said Schiphol’s Chief Operations Officer Ad Rutten.
Schiphol already offers iris-scan screening for those who want to bypass long passport lines. STill getting hand-frisked is “never a happy story,” Rutten says.
