The government's consultation [1] on naked scanners (also known as full body scanners or advanced imaging technology (AIT)) closes on 21st June.
Consultation responses can be sent by email to copconsultation@dft.gsi.gov.uk or by post to:
Mike Alcock
Department for Transport
Aviation Security Transec
Southside,105 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6DT
The consultation document [2], which contains ten questions that the Department of Transport would like you to answer, and an 'Impact Assessment on the use of security scanners at UK airports' [3] can be downloaded from the Department of Transport website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-23/.
Naked scanners background
Back in February the government announced the roll out of naked scanners in UK airports [4], released an Interim Code of Practice [4] and a pro naked scanners assessment of the associated health risks [6].
Lord Adonis (then Transport Secretary) confirmed that naked scans will be compulsory for all those singled out:
In the immediate future, only a small proportion of airline passengers will be selected for scanning. If a passenger is selected for scanning, and declines, they will not be permitted to fly.
Unlike the UK, in many other countries including the United States passengers are to be offered the alternative of a pat down search if they would rather not have a naked scan.
The excuse being used for the introduction of naked scanners is the "pants incident" (whereby a man on a flight to the United States on Christmas Day 2009 had some ingredients in his underpants that caused a small fire to break out). Many experts doubt whether naked scanners would have helped to detect such ingredients hidden in this way [7].
The following campaigns/articles may be useful:
No CCTV's previous naked scanner articles:
'Naked scanners, naked CCTV and barefaced lies' (Jan '10)
http://www.no-cctv.org.uk/blog/naked_scanners_naked_cctv_and_barefaced_lies.htm
'Naked scanners update - EU parliament debate this week' (Feb '10)
http://www.no-cctv.org.uk/blog/naked_scanners_update_-_eu_parliament_debate_this_week.htm
Big Brother Watch's Body Scanner pages:
http://www.bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/home/body-scanners/
Privacy International's 'statement on proposed deployments of body scanners in airports'
http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd[347]=x-347-565802
The Privacy Coalition's 'Stop Whole Body Imaging' campaign
http://www.stopdigitalstripsearches.org/
The Electronic Privacy Information Centre (EPIC) 'Whole Body Imaging Technology and Body Scanners' page
http://epic.org/privacy/airtravel/backscatter/
'Stop Airport Strip Searches' facebook group
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=179598280013
'All Facebook Against Airport Full Body Scanners'
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=239458517874
Endnotes:
- [ 1] - http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-23/
- [ 2] - http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-23/consultation.pdf
- [ 3] - http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-23/ia.pdf
- [ 4] - http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/adonis20100201
- [ 5] - http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/security/aviation/airport/bodyscanners/codeofpractice/
- [ 6] - http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/security/aviation/airport/securityscanners/securityscanner/
- [ 7] - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031700649.html
