NU.nl, 27 June 2012: 'Amsterdam considers body scanners on streets'

“The Amsterdam municipality is looking at the possibility of deploying X-ray body scanners on the streets.

Mayor Eberhard van der Laan (PvdA) explained to the city council on Thursday the Amsterdam police's investigation into the possibilities of using so-called 'scan poles' to supplement preventive frisking.

Amsterdam's D66 party wants the municipality to stop the investigation immediately.

Privacy

D66 thinks the invasion of privacy is too great. The party already considers preventive frisking a heavy tool and calls the body scanner that can look through clothing with radiation "really several steps too far". "The police do not need to know everything about the Amsterdam resident," D66 party chairman Jan Paternotte responded on Wednesday.

According to the mayor, the investigation into the 'nude scans' is part of a wider, nationwide discussion on the use of gun controls.

"In Amsterdam, we want to prevent innocent people from being searched and at the same time increase the chances of catching people who do carry weapons. These technological means could contribute to that," said a Van der Laan spokesperson. The deployment of 'hand detectors', as used in security, is also a possibility.

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Right

Privacy First Foundation announces it will go to court should Amsterdam police decide to deploy body scanners on the streets.

In addition to the force, Mayor Eberhard van der Laan will then also be sued, the foundation announced. Use of the scanner would violate human dignity, the presumption of innocence and the privacy of passers-by.

The physical integrity and health of Amsterdam residents would also be compromised by the introduction of mobile X-ray scanners. Privacy First urges the city council to whistle back the police and ban the introduction of 'nude scanners'."

Read HERE whole post at NU.nl