EU parliament sets conditions for airport body scanners

Germany: The European parliament backed Wednesday the deployment of body scanners at airports, but on condition that travelers have the right to refuse to walk through the controversial machines.

European lawmakers gave their conditional support in a show of raised hands a day before the European Commission decides whether to authorise states in the 27-nation European Union to use body scanners at airport security checkpoints.

Euro MPs do not oppose body scanners and agree they can enhance security, but they say passengers should have the right to refuse to walk through the machines and opt for a hand search instead. AFP