X-RATED AIRPORT SCANNERS

NEW X-ray machines that reveal the naked truth are appearing at American
airports.

They can see through passengers' clothing and are being used to search for
drugs and weapons.

The devices may soon be ordered for British airports too, according to the
US makers. HM Customs has been showing interest but is still considering the
privacy issue.

This question has already stirred controversy in the US. The American Civil
Liberties Union (ACLU) has protested that the X-rays amount to an electronic
strip search.

However, the makers, American Science and Engineering Inc. bridle at
comparisons between the BodySearch and the X-ray glasses worn by James Bond
in The World is Not Enough. In one scene, Bond strolls through a casino
eyeing the guns and in one case a garter belt. Robert Peters, vice-president
of marketing for the manufacturer, said: "You simply cannot do what James
Bond and others do with X-ray glasses."

He added that it does not define underwear, or skin colour, birthmarks or
even tattoos. But it does show weapons and drugs taped to the body. And
genitals, of course.

Gregory Nojeim, counsel for the ACLU, complained that the scanners not only
show body parts clearly, they can also be enlarged.

ACLU is asking Congress to ban the scanner as a violation of the US
Constitution's protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

However, Raymond Kelly, the US Customs Commissioner, said: "People object to
being physically touched. That was why we brought in the scanners."