US$1000 fines threatened for scanner abuse

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Thursday, 17 February 2011

The US Senate has adopted - by 98 votes to zero - an amendment to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bill that makes it a federal crime to record, photograph or disseminate images produced by airport body scanners.

It also will be a federal crime to misuse images that originate from full body scanners or images produced by scanners at federal courthouses and federal office buildings.

The bill also covers misuse of original images produced by scanners as well as scans that are photographed using personal cameras, video devices or cell phones - by officials or members of the public.

Violations could attract penalties of a year in prison and a fine of up to US$100,000 per infraction.