FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 21, 2008

CONTACT:
Brandon Hensler, Director of Communications, 786-363-2737 or media@aclufl.org 

MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today expressed concern over Millimeter Wave Body Scanners being deployed at Miami International Airport, among others. The following can be attributed to Howard Simon, PhD, Executive Director, ACLU of Florida:

“There may be a time and a place for this new technology to be implemented, but it should not be done in an indiscriminate manner without regard to passengers’ privacy. We have seen a continual erosion of privacy in the U.S. post-9/11. This technology is an electronic strip search that further erodes the right to privacy that we expect as Americans.

“This technology should be reserved as a secondary scan for those passengers who are flagged as a security risk and/or give cause for suspicion. Make no mistake about it – this is a very intrusive search and is equivalent to being forced to strip naked with a bag on your head in front of TSA officers.

“It would be naïve to think that the use of this unproven technology will be restricted to airports. Metal detectors, which debuted at airports, are in use at concerts, football games, government buildings and public schools. Subjecting our children to these types of very personal and private scans that could possibly be made public by an employee is not a risk that most Americans are willing to take when there are other proven methods in place to protect us from those who wish to do harm.”

About the ACLU of Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our Web site at: www.aclufl.org.

2008 Press Releases