‘ STICKMAN’ SCANS

New airport security technology boosts privacy.

Ever since April 4, travellers going through full- body scans at the Vancouver International Airport have had a more private experience.

Yes, they still have to have undergo scans that pass low- level radio frequency waves over and around their bodies.

But due to new software being installed in airports across the country, what inspectors then see is just computer- generated figures, rather than individual images of bodies.

“This new software means there is no longer an image of a passenger’s body being looked at,” said Mathieu Larocque, spokesman for the Canadian Air Traffic Security Authority, which is installing the software on 52 full- body scanners across the country.

“It is just a stickman figure with yellow squares where further inspection is needed. In terms of protection and perception of privacy, this is a major step forward.”

While YVR’s new software came in earlier this month, all installations across the country were expected to be completed as of today.

Larocque said the new software was introduced to respond to concerns about privacy.

Full- body scans have been used at major airports across the country for three years. When passengers are

In terms of protection and perception of privacy, this is a major step forward.

MATHIEU LAROCQUE SPOKESMAN, CANADIAN AIR TRAFFIC SECURITY AUTHORITY

selected for secondary search, they can choose between a full- body scan and a personal search.

According to a news release from the Minister of State ( Transport), the new software neither collects personal information nor correlates the image with the passenger’s name or other identifying information.

Other countries such as the U. S. and the Netherlands are already using the software.

Passengers having a full- body scan enter the scanner, stand with their feet apart and hold their arms over their head. The scan takes about five seconds.

The technology works by projecting low- level radio frequency waves over and around the passenger’s body. The reflected waves are then read by detectors. The technology detects metals and non- metals including ceramics, liquids and explosives.

CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY. Before the new scanning software was introduced, screening officers looked at images of air travellers’ bodies in a separate room. Now images will consist of stick figures, right, with yellow squares where further inspection is suggested.