Biometrics the standard for passports?

theciscokid

Just seen on rte news, a co. called daon (www.daon.com) is the irish co. supplying the technology (which is already in some gov't institutions) and being put in place for american passports..

biometrics involves indentifying fingerprint scans (and also retina scans) and comparing them with records from a database,

apparently it will be functional for american travellers coming to ireland from next year...

Capt'n Midnight

Best recognition system is still optical

zz03

Originally posted by theciscokid


apparently it will be functional for american travellers coming to ireland from next year...

Surely you mean the other way around? i.e. every Irish passport holder entering the US will be required to carry a biometric passport?

When cars came out first they had the red flag law somewhere (ie someone with a red flag had to walk in front of each vehicle carrying a red flag to ensure that they didn't drive faster than walking speed).

Perhaps the same rules will apply shortly in terms of having a native accompany visitors wherever they go, if these security fads catch on around the place?


zz..

PS If you want to do well in business, make sure your employees and customers feel that they are fairly treated by your company.

If you want to get rid of terrorism make sure that people generally feel that they are fairly treated by your country.

MiCr0

several of the european airports i've been in have an retinal scanner - that you use instead of passport control when you arrive.

much quicker that the 'queue and view' that they normally have in place

tom-thebox

The Register had a write up

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/31380.html

zz03

Originally posted by MiCr0
several of the european airports i've been in have an retinal scanner - that you use instead of passport control when you arrive.

much quicker that the 'queue and view' that they normally have in place

Who wants to expose one's eyes to a laser beam for non medical reasons?

What European airports have you come across this please? The only talk I have heard about the technology was at LHR for "fast tracking" first class passengers on long haul flights.

The best policy is surely to avoid transiting airports that have long queues!?

zz..

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/31380.html
Under the US Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, countries whose citizens enjoy visa-free travel to the United States "must issue passports with biometric identifiers no later than Oct. 26, 2004," the IHT reports.

Since us Irish need visa's to go to the states it obviously does not apply to us.

zz03

Originally posted by Capt'n Midnight
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/55/31380.html
Under the US Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, countries whose citizens enjoy visa-free travel to the United States "must issue passports with biometric identifiers no later than Oct. 26, 2004," the IHT reports.

Since us Irish need visa's to go to the states it obviously does not apply to us.

You currently don't need a visa with an Irish passport for normal business or vacation travel to enter the US. It is only required for employment and other non short term cases.

Please see http://www.usembassy.ie/consulate/visa_waiver.html

and http://www.irelandemb.org/passport.html (ie if you have an ancient hand written non machine readable passport you need to get a new one for travel to the US on/after 2003.10.01 if you intend to avail of the visa wiaver program.

zz..

MiCr0

Originally posted by zz03
What European airports have you come across this please?
zz..

schipol in amsterdam has it