Privacy alarm over fingerprinting at Heathrow's fifth terminal

[dipsydoodle]

Source: TIMESONLINE

BAA and the Government are at odds over plans to fingerprint passengers at Heathrow’s new fifth terminal. The Home Office denies having told the Spanish-owned airport operator to use fingerprinting as an extra security measure and the privacy watchdog says that the plan may be illegal.

The Information Commissioner’s Office is concerned that taking four fingerprints and a photograph of passengers is another step “on the road to a surveillance society” and has warned the airport operator that it might breach Data Protection laws.

BAA said that it was in negotiations with the commissioner over the fingerprint plan but that there was no prospect of the row delaying the scheduled operational opening of the £4.3 billion terminal on Thursday.

A spokesman for the Information Commissioner said: “Our concern is with the surveillance society. Is this another step on the road towards that kind of society? Why do they need fingerprints, and why four? Why are other airports able to operate with just photographs, and is this a proportionate response?”



Read more: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article3607446.ece

[PSPS]

1. Yeah, right. "...another step on the road to a surveillance society"

Isn't this kind of an ironic statement in a country that has far more surveillance cameras per-capita than anyplace on earth?

Seems it is just "another step on the road in a surveillance society."

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Great Britain...

Had strong privacy rights when I lived there. I do not recognize it now.

For the life of me, I do not understand why the British people are not howling.

[Swagman]

3. 1984 was really set in GB and Orwell recognised it was the country

most likely to easily fall for it.The security services there are so powerful and manipulative-the establishment has always been there and always will be and changes to suit the times. It's used 'terrorism' just as Bush has but in a cleverer way. That's why the British Royal Family know they are just pawns in a game and would be gotten rid of it suits the right people-as Prince Phillip says-"don't bump us off-we can packed and ready to go in half an hour"

[fujiyama]

4. I ABSOLUTELY HATE THAT FUCKING AIRPORT!

I honestly find it to be one of the worst in the world. It's overly congested and the security personel is incredibly rude. And Britain is a freakin police state anyways. The people there seem to not mind it. Just like us here in the States. We're just a step behind them...But then again, with the PATRIOT Act, Warrantless wiretapping, telecom immunity...we may just be able to match them soon!