Hacker News Reader

Comment by flexie | Hacker News Reader

They have to walk through metal detectors to buy books? I thought it was only for dangerous places like schools and offices.

I can't think of anywhere in Europe we have those except for American embassies, a few courthouses, some government buildings and airports.

Anyone knows when this started in the US and when it got so widespread?

View on HN

They're not metal detectors -- they're RFID scanners that sound an alarm if someone tries to steal something. A lot of products have an RFID chip attached that must be deactivated at the checkout. It's for reducing shoplifting, not for public safety.

I have let to see a local business in the US use a metal detector. Most will use shoplifting-detection gates at the exits. An "empty your pockets and purse" metal detector is terrible for business.

Most local businesses don't, but high-value targets like government office buildings, financial markets, museums (especially Jewish history and Holocaust memorial museums), and iconic monuments all tend to.

They are likely referring to the electronic article surveillance systems that many shops in the US use. They detect tags that are embedded in packaging, and now even inside products by the manufacturer. The only non-governmental metal detectors I've ever had to walk through are at major tourist spots and theme parks.

This might have something to do with USA weapons law.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com