Finnish airport operator Finavia has begun trialling a new non-intrusive body scanner at Helsinki Airport in Finland, in an attempt to expedite the security process for departing passengers. The new security scanner is intended to eventually replace manual body checks.
Passengers will only need to go through the security scanner if they trigger an alert at the metal detector gate, where trained security officers will then guide them to the scanner. The scanner generates an image showing the part of the body that triggered the alarm, which is then manually checked by the security officer.
Instead of an actual body image, the security scanner creates an unidentifiable avatar of the passenger, which can be seen by the traveler during the check. No data or image files of the passengers are saved and the scanner automatically deletes all data at the end of the security check.
The security scanner uses low-frequency millimetric waves that pass through clothing but not through skin. It is claimed that the technology is safe for passengers who are pregnant or who use a pacemaker.