Germany edition

Protesters at Berlin's Tegel airport. Photo: DPA

Pirate Party protests 'naked' scanners in their underpants

Published: 11 Jan 10 10:45 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20100111-24493.html

Scantily clad Pirate Party supporters demonstrated over the weekend at several German airports to show their opposition to controversial “naked” scanners planned for security checks.

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Despite the frigid temperatures outside, the protesters assembled nearly naked groups at airports in Berlin, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf on Sunday afternoon. The participants stripped down to their underpants, marching behinds signs that read: “No need to scan us – we’re already naked.”

A statement on the party's website said they opposed the new security scanners because they threaten the “private sphere and the personal rights of passengers.”

Germany's data protection commissioner, Peter Schaar, warned officials last week not to rush the implementation of the full-body scanners at airport security stations following a failed terrorist attack in the US last month. Critics are concerned that the devices, which allow security personnel to see through clothing, have not been improved enough to protect passengers' personal rights.

Meanwhile Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives said use of the scanners would be fast-tracked for introduction within the year.

The German Pirate Party was inspired by the Swedish Piratpartiet and founded in 2006. In the September 2009 federal election they garnered two percent of the vote.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

11:53 January 11, 2010 by Kayak

Sorry, but aint that the point? You don't need to take off your clothes if they use a scanner. It would be very difficult to sneak a bomb onto a plane if you were naked... I am missing something here?

Report abuse »

12:44 January 11, 2010 by Heinrich der Zweite

A right lot of andy pandys who've got problems with their testimonials. What a load of bo..ocks.

Report abuse »

12:59 January 11, 2010 by MaKo

Frankly, I would rather have some security offcials scan my junk, than have my junk unceremoniously scattered over the Atlantic.

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13:05 January 11, 2010 by Dave Rogers

Most of them look like they couldnt afford a flight anyway.......

I am all for the scanner's

Report abuse »

14:08 January 11, 2010 by airborne1092

Photo-shopped in?

No, no. She DOES appear to be REALLY pasty-white.

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15:49 January 11, 2010 by hkypuck

Give me a break with this privacy crap! Trust me folks, the security people aren't getting real "turned on" looking at the average person's silhouette. In fact, based on this photo, I feel bad for the scanner operators - they have to stare at these beasts all day (and these are the young folks, imagine granny in her knickers? yuck!)

I'd be willing to bet that these same "prudes" are the ones running around naked at the Love Parade.

Hypocritical? Any reason to get together and protest something I guess....

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16:41 January 11, 2010 by Henckel

@hkypuck: What's wrong with granny in her knickers?

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17:59 January 11, 2010 by dcgi

These people look like "professional protesters" to me, I imagine they go quite mad if they aren't on a march at least once a week.

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00:18 January 12, 2010 by maxbrando

I believe the proper point is that Europeans, Germans in particular, are grossly offended that they are placed on the same level as U.S.A. citizens. "How dare you compare us to the USA." This air of superiority has been the engine of "student" superiority for decades. The truth is, that if you ow want to get on an airplane, you need to show yourself like at Auschwitz. How did they feel?? HAH!!!

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#10

03:15 January 12, 2010 by Gaspard

I honestly congratulate these people as standing up to their privacy rights being violated--and really, these scanners (which are being employed obviously in other countries besides Germany) are very much unlawful. It saddens me that these abominable "policies" are being implemented without regard for people's rights.

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#11

03:22 January 12, 2010 by waylon360

As our founding fathers here in the U.S. said, those who sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither and will lose both. For those of you willing to give up your rights and conform to this Orwellian system we're undergoing, look into government sponsored terrorism. Watch terrorstorm. Look into the sharp dressed man who escorted the underwear bomber passed security and onto the plane... which means, no matter what security there was, it wouldn't have been effective since it was bypassed!

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#12

04:09 January 12, 2010 by Outlander

People protest to raise awareness to issues that may have been covered up by powers that be. People also often feel so powerless to disagree with the decisions of their own government as there are less and less viable avenues to have a voice of any significance to enact change.

At what point do the people realise that the government who are hired to serve them are in no way influenced by the population but only special interests?

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#13

07:02 January 12, 2010 by Guglielmo

"Those whom choose to give up liberty for security deserve neither." Benjamin Franklin

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#14

08:47 January 12, 2010 by Bazza Mac

Do you dummed down americans realize the body scanners will not stop at the airports.Beside the risk of cancer. Thankfully a lot have and they are fighting for your constitutional rights,They are watching the gangster bankers and who voted for what and trying to replace them with constitutional anti war freedom candidates.Do you realize your commie president is trying to Bankrupt your country and sell you the people to the one world govt.The awakened have realized there is no difference Btween the dems and repbs,the only people saying different are spooks[al CIA du]and sheeple.At the minute you have the best govt money can buy.turn of the tv and and get the real news on the internett,you can start by google NWO.

Report abuse »

#15

12:56 January 12, 2010 by adipk

First of all, now its drama to capture a person in plane. I dont thing so the security is so loose to get on board with out checking. and on airport security persons always check the luggage and persons. so come to point that son of bitch was not alone to take the things to plane there must be some one who assist him.

any way my concern is , who give the surety that these images will not loose and go to Internet. if its not good for than?

For me its just to sell million dollars equipment and to make money thats all.

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#16

19:29 January 12, 2010 by daredevil1

@Bazza Mac ...it's good that you're getting the word out but don't have to cite Alex Jones word for word.

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#17

22:45 January 12, 2010 by cycle63

I flew through the airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma and they were testing these scanners. I was unaware of what they were actually doing. If I would have known I would have went through the other line.

While this may be more secure, I do not see it as being safe for the person.

Report abuse »

#18

13:52 January 13, 2010 by Naked_Jimmy

Help continue the fight for our privacy by joining the Facebook group:

REFUSE THE NAKED BODY-SCANNER!

Together we can stand against this Tyranny!

Report abuse »

#19

15:49 January 13, 2010 by Ariannis

Airports won't be the only place these insideous machines will go. Soon they will be prevalent everywhere in the guise of keeping people safe.

From what I have heard they HAD these scanners in Amsterdam and it still didn't STOP this supposed terrorist. This is nothing more than a corporate "wet dream" to reap in profits.

I say these kids had some moxy to get out there in chilly temps to protest for OUR rights. If we let the powers that be "make" us go through these scanners then we've lost all our rights to be a free human being.

Report abuse »

#20

01:01 January 16, 2010 by Thames

When we have the Pirate Party on our side how can the Taliban win?

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