News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Defeated.

Re:Defeated by josscrowcroft on Monday August 26, 2013 @06:01AM (#6276067)
This happened to me at Heathrow in London, except there's no option to "opt-out". You either do it, or you don't fly. It's randomly selected, so although I triggered no safety protocols, I was picked out for backscatter.

I was a hair's width from turning around and flying from Gatwick instead at a few hundred bucks cost (nothing compared to observing my rights) - but the engagement was too important.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Defeated by DanBC on Monday August 26, 2013 @06:37AM (#6276164)
I guess that refusing the scan turns the encounter from random into 'suspicious person', giving them "reasonable grounds" to do all sorts of interrogation.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Defeated by abrichr on Monday August 26, 2013 @08:30AM (#6276567)
When was this? Heathrow doesn't currently use back scatter [1].

[1] http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathr...

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Defeated by josscrowcroft on Monday August 26, 2013 @09:53AM (#6277005)
They do, unfortunately. Not for everybody, but randomly selected (I guess 1 in 1000 or fewer) and when singled out, it's a requirement. I'm white and british, so you can't call it profiling either..

It's way off at the side, so nobody really knows it's going on. Your only recourse is to take it up with the home office.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Defeated by hyperventilator on Monday August 26, 2013 @07:22AM (#6276313)
While not being able to opt out is more restrictive, it is probably much quicker, go through or don't fly, done.
[ Parent | on HN ]