TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Germany Dismisses Full-Body 'Nonsense'

ADVERTISEMENT

BY TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2008

TAMPA - 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 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," a spokeswoman for the German interior ministry says in the report.

The report says several EU member countries 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.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT