EU shelves airport body scanner plan

(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission has shelved controversial plans to introduce full body scanners at airports but will keep restrictions on liquids in hand luggage, a spokesman said Thursday.

The commission, the European Union's executive body, wants to take more time "to analyse" the security use of the machines, which, while they are meant to fight "terrorism", have raised deep concerns about privacy.

The move was welcomed in the European Parliament, which has asked for a detailed impact assessment on the security, health and privacy aspects of use of the scanners.

"Airline passengers risk being subjected to invasive measures with insufficient attention to privacy and the possible health impact that this new technology brings", said Graham Watson, leader of the assembly's liberal bloc.

Greens deputy Kathalijne Buitenweg said the use of the machines, already on trial on a voluntary basis in the Netherlands and Britain, raises a number of sensitive questions.

"Will the images be destroyed after? Where would they be saved for a certain period? Will people's names be mentioned on the images? How can we ensure that the photos will not be made public?" she said in a statement.

EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani insisted last month that he had not made any decision on whether the new scanners would be endorsed and underlined that people would never be forced to go through them in any case.

He said some people prefer the scanners, which are aimed at improving security checks while speeding up queues at airports, to the alternative of body searches.