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From The Times
March 27, 2008

BAA told to scrap fingerprint plan for Terminal 5 travellers

Alexi Mostrous

BAA has climbed down over plans to fingerprint passengers at Heathrow’s new fifth terminal after the privacy watchdog said the move may be illegal.

The Spanish-owned airport operator had hoped to take four fingerprints from passengers arriving at the £4.3 billion terminal, which opens to-day. The plan would have affected all domestic passengers using Terminal 5, as well as international travellers transferring to an internal flight.

The Information Commissioner’s Office expressed concern that the move was another step towards a surveillance society and warned BAA that it might breach data protection laws. It said: “Our concern is with the surveillance 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?”

A spokesman for BAA said: “Following a meeting with all relevant parties, including the Information Commissioner and the Border and Immigration Agency, the introduction of fingerprinting for domestic passengers and international passengers transferring on to domestic flights at Heathrow will be temporarily delayed.”

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: “BAA’s decision to abandon their intrusive plans to fingerprint all passengers at the new Heathrow terminal is welcome. It is disappointing, however, that the Information Commissioner had to question the legality of this invasive process before BAA agreed to drop it.”

BAA can't deliver bags, 1/2 mile across a runway; what hope have they of keeping personal data safe and protected. Security can be maintained without compromising peoples rights, just travel through any of the German airports to see how this can be done.

Scrap BAA's monopoly on London's airports and let the consumer have some real choice in air travel for a change.

Mark, York,


"Well, yes I know we said that the fingerprint thing was the only way to ensure full security and correct passenger movement through the terminal but we had another method tucked up our sleeve - just in case we were sussed".

I am waiting for the leaks showing government involvement in the fingerprint debacle - it will happen - just a matter of time.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

Public Authorities are forever blaming data protection laws and/or the Human Rights Act for their failure to properly investigate or apply common sense in given situations. Having then screwed up and cost money/lives etc, it is the easy and default position to suggest their hands were tied by legislation which they have interpreted both loosely and inaccurately (and probably retrospectively, when scratching around for a way out)

Homer, London,

Phillip Jesson - how many lives has it cost?

Well would you like me to leave the list at the Soham Murders or do you have all day?

D Jones, Chester,

A Wallace - how many lives has it cost?

Another nonsense opinion that cannot be backed up with hard facts.

Phillip Jesson, Melton Mowbray,

Misinterpretation of the Data law by many legal advisers to police forces across the country ended up costing lives. BAA should go with common sense and tell the Information Commissioner that he could do with a dose of common sense as well.

A Wallace, worcs, uk

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