detroit scare sparks debate on full-body scanners

AMSTERDAM (Reuters)-
The presence of technology could detect explosives hidden in the underwear of a Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a plane over Detroit, but so far cost and privacy concerns have prevented its widespread use
23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutalab is suspected of trying to burn a explosive called PETN with a chemical.
On Christmas morning, Northwest Flight 253 was filled with syringes as it approached Detroit.
He passed security checks in Lagos and Amsterdam, where the standard metal detector arch did not find his weapons.
There are at least 15 Schiphol airport in Amsterdam
The body \"millimeter wave\" scanner under the passenger\'s clothes can detect suspicious packages or weapons.
The problem is: their use is only voluntary because of concerns that the scan will \"expose\" passengers to the operator and anyone passing through the screen of the machine.
The cost is also great.
The traditional archway metal detectors cost as much as $15,000, but more intensively
The price of the body scanner is about 10 times that of it.
\"I don\'t think there will be a rush to buy new equipment, because the airport operators are currently under tight funding and the equipment itself is very tight, although very good, not a solution to the problem, \"Kevin Murphy, physical security product manager, Qinetiq Group, UK, said
Headquartered in the defense and security technology group.
\"Some passengers are relieved that there is new technology there and are prepared to give up some privacy measures for that, and others are angry about it.
He told Reuters: \"Airport operators need an effective security plan, behavioral modeling, and recruitment process, just as they need advanced hardware.
Qinetiq\'s focus is on \"confrontation screening\" to scan passengers before they arrive at the security checkpoint.
\"Millimeter wave\" and \"reverse scattering X-
The Ray scanner is trying to do roughly the same thing
See below the clothes and identify unusual objects by different densities relative to the human body.
Industry experts say the public-
There is no reason for the shooting machine.
But privacy concerns are stronger than health concerns in the United States, especially in Europe.
The German Interior Ministry, which sets standards for the safety of domestic airports, last year refused to use human scanners after it was identified as infringing privacy, although their practicality and safety are still being tested.
\"They were rejected because they went too far in the private sector of travellers,\" said Verena Meyer, spokesman for the independent parliamentary regulator, the federal commissioner for data protection and freedom of information.
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that certain conditions must be met, including covering up privacy details and making it easier for explosives to be identified.
In the UK, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: \"We intend to be at the forefront of all these new technologies and to ensure that we implement this technology as soon as possible.
But progress has been slow so far.
A spokesman for Manchester Airport said the airport was conducting a trial but did not decide to implement it, while Heathrow operator BAA said it did not use a body scanner at all.
The European Parliament has been opposed to body scanners on the grounds of privacy and health, and has asked for more research in both areas.
Nevertheless, a spokesman for the European Commission said on Tuesday: \"There are no EU rules that prevent member states from using them if they want . \".
Speculation about increased demand this week boosted the share price of scanner manufacturers.
Some smaller companies, such as ICX Technologies and OSI Systems, started with only a few hundred million dollars, up 10% or more on Monday.
Like Smith Group and L-
Their machines have been tried at airports around the world, and communications have benefited.
Shikepu\'s chief operating officer and safety director said on Monday that they intend to force the use of millimeter wave scanners once approved by the EU.
Schiphol officials refuse X-
For the public who use it frequently, the machine is too unsafe.
They have repeatedly stressed that no matter what technology they choose, they are not sure what the results of last week will be different.
\"There is no 100% guarantee that we will catch him,\" Ad ruttten, chief operating officer of Schiphol Group, said of Abdul Mutalab . \".
The industry quickly praised shikepu\'s decision, but soon added that it might not be enough.
\"This is a good thing, no doubt.
But a solution does not solve all the bugs.
\"This requires a set of solutions,\" said Chris Yates, Jane\'s Aviation analyst . \". ($1=. 6256 Pound)