OTTAWA, Ont. — Citizen and Immigration minister Elinor Caplan says Canada will not use electronic scanners at points-of-entry to search for criminals, terrorists or illegal immigrants.

The scanner works by being directly networked to police and security-organization computer systems. An investigating customs official would have immediate access to the data stored on those computers.

Caplan noted that the electronic scanning of passports or documents would violate civil liberties and “hassle legitimate travellers.”