April 2005
Privacy rights overlooked by UK airport
Manchester Airport has awarded £4,000 compensation to a passenger who accused it of being in breach of the Data Protection Act, for taking a photograph without permission.
Photographs were snapped of passengers as they passed through security. These photographs were then used to identify that the correct passenger was boarding the plane as well as to stop domestic passengers from making duty-free purchases. After a passenger confronted Manchester Airport about the breach on two occasions, the airport not only apologised and made a payment to settle the claim but it has since adopted the practice of giving passengers leaflets advising them of their right not to be photographed.
Security staff have been told that passengers who refuse to be photographed can stay on the land side of the airport until a security officer escorts them to the gate. Passengers are not compelled to have their photograph taken and the images are said to be deleted after 24 hours.
BRIFFA Comment:
Everyday people, not just celebrity circles, are jumping on the privacy bandwagon and claiming damages for a breach of their rights. It wouldn't be surprising if other airports that also take photographs follow the same or similar method of advising passengers of their rights, for fear of more claims on the horizon. Companies will almost invariably try to avoid all adverse publicity that can come with a breach of the Data Protection Act, so often a payment will be made conditional upon the person receiving the payment keeping the whole affair confidential. The problem is, many people are not aware of their rights and so cannot correct people when they are breaching them or about to breach them.