Bollywood star exposes airport privacy flaw

Assurances of privacy for international travellers subjected to a controversial new body scanning system earmarked for Australian airports have been torpedoed after British airport personnel printed copies of a high-profile traveller's scan.

The Herald reported this morning that there were concerns about the scanners which are believed to capture, in clear anatomical detail, the body images of travellers who undergo the procedure.

British transport minister Lord Adonis told the BBC last week that images captured by scanners would be destroyed immediately, posing no risk to travellers' privacy. It is understood that the scanners are currently in use at Heathrow and Manchester Airports, with Birmingham set to follow.

Indian film star Shah Rukh Khan said in an interview that upon exiting a scanning device, he was approached by two female security officers and asked to autograph printed copies of his body scan.

"I thought maybe it's a form you're supposed to (sign)... and you could see everything inside," Khan told talk BBC show host Jonathan Ross.

"And then I've autographed them for them."

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said he accepted the scanning would raise privacy concerns and add delays to the boarding of international flights leaving Australia.

Australia will begin introducing the scanners early next year.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE