of changi airport to test new body scanners which reveals too much

Changi's T3 offers choice of 'body scanner' or physical searches: Changi Airport Terminal 3 is testing the new millimeter wave scanner in place of the traditional pat down during the security checks.

Some people may not like this because the scan reveals too much. Sample of the scan (which I blogged about before) below.


To address privacy, Singapore Changi Airport has adopted the following
1. passenger's face and sensitive body parts such as breasts and genitals are blurred
2. images cannot be downloaded or saved, and are automatically deleted.
3. images are viewed by women officers only.
4. women officers cannot carry cameras and other photographic equipment.

CHANGI Airport is testing a new screening machine which can better detect weapons, explosives, drugs and other contraband items concealed on the body.

The problem, at least for some travellers, is that the millimetre wave scanner also produces images that outline body contours too clearly for comfort.

On trial at gate-hold rooms A1-A8 at Terminal 3 from July to September, the equipment produces three-dimensional images in grey, white and black by using harmless radio waves that bounce off a passenger.

The new technique is an alternative for those who do not wish to be physically searched, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and police said in response to queries from The Straits Times. Body scanning is not compulsory, the authorities stressed...

...In Singapore, care has been taken to ensure that privacy is not compromised. The passenger's face and sensitive body parts such as breasts and genitals are blurred. Images cannot be downloaded or saved, and are automatically deleted.

They are viewed by women officers only. When on duty, they cannot carry cameras and other photographic equipment.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and police wishes to highlight that the body scanning is not compulsory.