The UK's equality watchdog has written to the Home Secretary over concerns about the proposed introduction of body scanners at airports. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) claims the devices risk breaching the Human Rights Act right to privacy and is calling on the Government to justify the measure. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there would be a "gradual" introduction of scanners at airports. It followed the alleged attempt to down an American plane near Detroit on Christmas Day. (MJ – Classic problem-reaction-solution. A set up if ever there was one, and this is the solution). Scanner supporters claim the move will enhance security, but opponents say the machines provide a too intimate image of passengers. The EHRC believes the proposals are likely to have a negative impact on privacy, especially for disabled people, the elderly, children and the transgendered community. The commission has written to Home Secretary Alan Johnson asking him to clarify passenger safeguards and the criteria that will be used when selecting people for scanning. Equal rights campaigners have aired concern the profiling process may lead to discrimination against people on the grounds of ethnicity or religion. John Wadham, group director legal at the EHRC, said: "The commission fully accepts the Government's responsibility to protect the safety and security of air travellers. "The right to life is the ultimate human right and we support the Government reviewing security in the light of recent alleged terrorist activity. "However, the Government needs to ensure that measures to protect this right also take into account the need to be proportionate in its counter-terrorism proposals and ensure that they are justified by evidence and effectiveness." (Sky News) (MJ - the scanner photos are a real invasion of privacy. Reverse the above image and you'll see why)
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