Biometric Passports: Another Extension?

The US October 2005 deadline, which requires visitors entering the country to

hold a passport with a biometric identifier, may be stretched at the request of

EU. According to European Justice Commissioner, Franco Frattini,

interoperability and security issues with the biometric readers are taking

longer than expected to address and only six EU countries-Austria, Belgium,

Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden-are currently in a position to meet the

October deadline. So EU has requested the US to extend the deadline till August

2006.

The UK is also negotiating separately with the US for an extension of the

deadline. Incidentally, it too plans to start introducing biometric passports

from the end of 2005. Each UK biometric passport will have a chip with a digital

image of the holder, while the EU versions will also carry a fingerprint or iris

scan. If the US agrees to the demand, it will be the second extension of the

biometric-passport deadline. If it doesn't, then millions of travelers to the US

will have to apply for visas to gain entry if they don't hold one of the new

passports.

The study, "Biometrics at the Frontiers: Assessing the impact on Society,"

warns that policy-makers need to think now about the impact of biometrics as the

cost of the technology comes down and its use becomes more widespread in

society. While acknowledging the security and its enabling benefits, the study

also raises issues about the reliability and intrusiveness of the technology.

Courtesy: News.com