Today the European Parliament's Transport Committee voted on the controversial issue of using "body scanners" for aviation security. Ever since they were first tested in certain Member States, ALDE expressed doubts over their real effectiveness in the fight against terrorism and their respect to fundamental rights and freedom.

"If we have to yield to the evidence that certain Member States already introduced body scanners we will make sure that their use is regulated by common EU rules and subjected to clear and stringent conditions to ensure passenger health, personal data as well as the individual dignity and privacy of passengers." stated ALDE coordinator and spokesperson on the issue, Gesine Meissner (FDP, Germany).

"Passengers must be given the choice to refuse to undergo this check, in favour of an alternative. We also insist that only representative images of the human body be used instead of actual profiles to avoid erosion of personal privacy, since the scope of the scanning process is only to detect prohibited objects."

"We regret that the two largest groups succeeded in changing the wording "body scanners" into "security scanners" continued Ms Meissner, who concluded: "We need to call things by their name. Changing "body" into "security" does not make it less intrusive."

Sophie In't Veld (D66, Netherland) ALDE spokesperson on body scanners in the Civil Liberties Committee is insisting that body scanner images are not stored:

"It is important that data obtained from body scanners is not stored. Operators who misuse or hold onto the data should face appropriate sanctions."

"Furthermore the travelling public has the right to know where these scanners are installed, especially if they are placed in locations other than airports."