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| Europe delays airport X-ray eye | Europe delays airport X-ray eye |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| EU lawmakers have delayed the introduction at airports of full body scanners, machines that generate images of passengers - minus their clothes. | EU lawmakers have delayed the introduction at airports of full body scanners, machines that generate images of passengers - minus their clothes. |
| MEPs voted for a further study on the implications for privacy and health. | MEPs voted for a further study on the implications for privacy and health. |
| Computer pictures generated by the scanners give an outline of passengers' bodies beneath their clothes. | Computer pictures generated by the scanners give an outline of passengers' bodies beneath their clothes. |
| Supporters say they detect hidden objects not picked up by traditional metal detectors. But critics say they amount to a virtual strip search. | Supporters say they detect hidden objects not picked up by traditional metal detectors. But critics say they amount to a virtual strip search. |
| The new scanners have already been introduced in several US airports and have been tested around the world. | The new scanners have already been introduced in several US airports and have been tested around the world. |
| Efficient measure | Efficient measure |
| The European Commission - which supports their implementation - has given assurances that the scanners will not be used routinely on all passengers. | The European Commission - which supports their implementation - has given assurances that the scanners will not be used routinely on all passengers. |
| And it would be a faster and less intrusive alternative to frisking or strip-searching people. | And it would be a faster and less intrusive alternative to frisking or strip-searching people. |
| Where scanners are in use, security staff can pick out individuals to stand in a booth while three pictures are taken of the person in slightly different positions. | |
| This is an offence against human dignity Martin Schulz European MP | This is an offence against human dignity Martin Schulz European MP |
| Within seconds, a scanner produces an image of the body. | |
| What shows up is the naked human form and anything that may be concealed, such as a gun or drugs. | What shows up is the naked human form and anything that may be concealed, such as a gun or drugs. |
| "The Commission believes that body scanning methods can complement in a very effective and efficient way the existing security measures at airports," said spokesman Jens Mester at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. | "The Commission believes that body scanning methods can complement in a very effective and efficient way the existing security measures at airports," said spokesman Jens Mester at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. |
| European officials believe the X-ray scans could ease airport queues | European officials believe the X-ray scans could ease airport queues |
| But others are unconvinced. | But others are unconvinced. |
| "It is unacceptable, if scanners are used, these are machines that see you completely naked," said Martin Schulz, leader of the socialist grouping in the EU assembly. | "It is unacceptable, if scanners are used, these are machines that see you completely naked," said Martin Schulz, leader of the socialist grouping in the EU assembly. |
| "This is an offence against human dignity," he added. | "This is an offence against human dignity," he added. |
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