Incoming EU justice affairs chief says body scanners at airports damage individual privacy
By APTuesday, January 12, 2010
New EU justice chief cautions on body scanners
BRUSSELS — The EU’s incoming justice chief oppose mandatory body scanners at airports, citing privacy concerns.
Viviane Reding says undergoing a body scan should be voluntary and the image taken must be quickly destroyed.
She told a European Parliament committee Tuesday that “our citizens are not objects. They are human beings.”
Reding is to be the next EU justice affairs commissioner.
She says she plans to take steps to boost privacy protection in agreements the EU signs with the United States and other countries.
EU lawmakers have complained that European governments have put security above civil freedoms by handing personal bank or travel data to U.S. authorities without seeking privacy safeguards.
