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German Official Calls Air Passenger Scanner 'Nonsense'

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2008

What works in Tampa might be a little too personal for Berlin.

The federal Transportation Security Administration inaugurated use of a version of a full-body imaging security scanner Friday at Tampa International Airport without incident, airport spokeswoman Brenda Geoghagan said. The device allows screeners to peer beneath clothing for banned items. But the installation of the machines prompted a call from a German media outlet inquiring about the devices in use at Tampa and other U.S. airports, she said.

German officials have not been as willing as U.S. and some European counterparts to use similar technology. Citing privacy issues, Germany said Friday it will not participate in European Union proposals for airports to use full-body scanner security checks, a Reuters news report states.

"I can tell you in all clarity that we will not take part in this nonsense," says a spokeswoman for the German interior ministry in the Reuters report

The report says several EU states use body scanners, but some lawmakers called the machines "a virtual strip-search." They want to study the devices before implementing the technology.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817 or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.

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