Countries applying biometrics

This list is only partial. Multiple other countries in Asia and Africa, including China (PRC), collect fingerprints and other biometrics from foreign visitors upon entry.

Australia

Visitors intending to visit Australia and returning Australian residents with an ePassport may have to submit to biometric authentication as part of the Smartgate system, linking individuals to their visas and passports. Biometric data are collected from some visa applicants by Immigration particularly in cases of Refugee or Humanitarian Visas.[1] Australia is the first country to introduce a Biometrics Privacy Code, which is established and administered by the Biometrics Institute. The Biometrics Institute Privacy Code forms part of Australian privacy legislation. The Code includes privacy standards that are at least equivalent to the Australian National Privacy Principles (NPPs) in the Privacy Act and also incorporates higher standards of privacy protection in relation to certain acts and practices. Only members of the Biometrics Institute are eligible to subscribe to this Code. Biometrics Institute membership, and thus subscription to this Code, is voluntary.[2]

Brazil

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Brazilian citizens have had user ID cards. The decision by the Brazilian government to adopt fingerprint-based biometrics was spearheaded by Dr. Felix Pacheco at Rio de Janeiro, at that time capital of the Federative Republic. Dr. Pacheco was a friend of Dr. Juan Vucetich, who invented one of the most complete tenprint classification systems in existence. The Vucetich system was adopted not only in Brazil, but also by most of the other South American countries. The oldest and most traditional ID Institute in Brazil (Instituto de Identificação Félix Pacheco) was integrated at DETRAN[3] (Brazilian equivalent to DMV) into the civil and criminal AFIS system in 1999.

Each state in Brazil is allowed to print its own ID card, but the layout and data are the same for all of them. The ID cards printed in Rio de Janeiro are fully digitized using a 2D bar code with information which can be matched against its owner off-line. The 2D bar code encodes a color photo, a signature, two fingerprints, and other citizen data. This technology was developed in 2000 in order to enhance the safety of the Brazilian ID cards.

By the end of 2005, the Brazilian government started the development of its new passport. The new documents started to be released by the beginning of 2007, in Brasília. The new passport included several security features, like Laser perforation, UV hidden symbols, security layer over variable data etc. Brazilian citizens will have their signature, photo, and 10 rolled fingerprints collected during passport requests. All of the data is planned to be stored in ICAO E-passport standard. This allows for contactless electronic reading of the passport content and Citizens ID verification since fingerprint templates and token facial images will be available for automatic recognition.

Canada

Canada has begun research into the use of biometric technology in the area of border security[4] and immigration (Center for Security Sciences, Public Security Technical Program, Biometrics Community of Practice). At least one program, the NEXUS program operated jointly by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is already operational. It is a functioning example of biometric technology, specifically "iris recognition biometric technology"[5] used for border control and security for air travellers. Canada is also the home for the world's biggest biometric access control company called Bioscrypt Inc..

France

France introduced biometric border control system known as Parafe on 3 August 2007 at some of its Shengen borders. The system allows those enrolled to utilise automated "airlock" barriers to cross the border. French passports issued after June 2009 are pre-enrolled, while European Union, European Economic Area, Swiss passport holders and family member of European Union citizens can enroll at Charles de Gaulle (Terminals 1 and 2E) and Paris Orly airports. The barriers are currently in use at Orly, Charles de Gaulle, Marseille airports and on Eurostar services between London and Paris[6]

Gambia

The Gambia Biometric Identification System (GAMBIS) allowed for the issuance of Gambia's first biometric identity documents in July 2009. An individual's data, including their biometric information (thumbprints) is captured in the database. A National Identification Number (NIN), unique to each applicant applying for a card, is issued to the applicant. Biometric documents issued for Gambia include national identity cards, residential permits, non-Gambian ID cards and driver licenses.

Germany

The biometrics market in Germany experienced enormous growth between the years 2005 and 2009. "The market size will increase from approximately 120 million € (2004) to 377 million €" (2009). "The federal government will be a major contributor to this development".[7] In particular, the biometric procedures of fingerprint and facial recognition can profit from the government project.[7] In May 2005 the German Upper House of Parliament approved the implementation of the ePass, a passport issued to all German citizens which contain biometric technology. The ePass has been in circulation since November 2005, and contains a chip that holds a digital photograph and one fingerprint from each hand, usually of the index fingers, though others may be used if these fingers are missing or have extremely distorted prints. "A third biometric identifier – iris scans – could be added at a later stage".[8] An increase in the prevalence of biometric technology in Germany is an effort to not only keep citizens safe within German borders but also to comply with the current US deadline for visa-waiver countries to introduce biometric passports.[8] In addition to producing biometric passports for German citizens, the German government has put in place new requirements for visitors to apply for visas within the country. "Only applicants for long-term visas, which allow more than three months' residence, will be affected by the planned biometric registration program. The new work visas will also include fingerprinting, iris scanning, and digital photos".[9]

Germany is also one of the first countries to implement biometric technology at the Olympic Games to protect German athletes. "The Olympic Games is always a diplomatically tense affair and previous events have been rocked by terrorist attacks—most notably when Germany last held the Games in Munich in 1972 and 11 Israeli athletes were killed".[10]

Biometric technology was first used at the Olympic Summer Games in Athens, Greece in 2004. "On registering with the scheme, accredited visitors will receive an ID card containing their fingerprint biometrics data that will enable them to access the 'German House'. Accredited visitors will include athletes, coaching staff, team management and members of the media".[10]

As a protest against the increasing use of biometric data, the influential hacker group Chaos Computer Club published a fingerprint of German Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble in the March 2008 edition of its magazine Datenschleuder. The magazine also included the fingerprint on a film that readers could use to fool fingerprint readers.[11]

India

The government of India funds a number of social welfare schemes focused towards the poor and most vulnerable sections of society. Aadhaar and its platform offers an opportunity to streamline their welfare delivery mechanisms and improve transparency and good governance. In the recent Supreme Court of India verdict AADHAR has to be mandatorily linked to Permanent Account Number (Tax Identification Number of India)

Service Agencies

The UIDAI issues Aadhaar number to residents only after de-duplicating their demographic and biometric attributes against its entire database. Aadhaar authentication enables elimination of duplicates under various schemes and is expected to generate substantial savings to the government exchequer. It also provides the government with accurate data on beneficiaries, enables direct benefit programs, and allows the government departments/service providers to coordinate and optimize various schemes. Aadhaar will enable implementing agencies to verify beneficiaries and ensure targeted delivery of benefits. All these activities will lead to:

Curbing Leakages through Targeted Delivery: Welfare programs where beneficiaries are required to be confirmed before the service delivery, stand to benefit from UIDAI’s authentication services. This will result in curbing leakages and ensuring that services are delivered to the intended beneficiaries only. Examples include subsidized food and kerosene delivery to Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries, worksite attendance of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) beneficiaries, etc.

Improving Efficiency and Efficacy: With the Aadhaar platform providing accurate and transparent information about the service delivery mechanism, government can improve disbursement systems and utilize scarce development funds more effectively and efficiently including better human resource utilisation involved in the service delivery network.

For Residents

Aadhaar system provides single source online identity verification across the country for the residents. Once residents enrol, they can use the Aadhaar number to authenticate and establish their identity multiple times using electronic means. It eliminates the hassle of repeatedly providing supporting identity documents each time a resident wishes to access services such as opening a bank account, obtaining driving license, etc. By providing a portable proof of identity that can be verified through Aadhaar authentication on-line anytime, anywhere, the Aadhaar system enables mobility to millions of people who migrate from one part of the country to another.

About UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016 (Aadhaar Act 2016) on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Prior to its establishment as a statutory authority, UIDAI was functioning as an attached office of the then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) vied its Gazette Notification No.-A-43011/02/2009-Admn.I dated 28 January 2009. Later, on 12 September 2015, the Government revised the Allocation of Business Rules to attach the UIDAI to the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (DeitY) of the then Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

UIDAI was created with the objective to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as "Aadhaar", to all residents of India that is (a) robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, and (b) can be verified and authenticated in an easy, cost-effective way. The first UID number was issued on 29 September 2010 to a resident of Nandurbar, Maharashtra. The Authority has so far issued more than 111 crore (>1.11 Billion) Aadhaar numbers to the residents of India.

Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrollment and authentication, including operation and management of all stages of Aadhaar life cycle, developing the policy, procedure and system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals and perform authentication and also required to ensure the security of identity information and authentication records of individuals.

Iraq

Biometrics are being used extensively in Iraq to catalogue as many Iraqis as possible providing Iraqis with a verifiable identification card, immune to forgery. During account creation, the collected biometrics information is logged into a central database which then allows a user profile to be created. Even if an Iraqi has lost their ID card, their identification can be found and verified by using their unique biometric information. Additional information can also be added to each account record, such as individual personal history.

Israel

The Israeli government has passed a bill calling for the creation of a biometric database of all Israeli residents; the database will contain their fingerprints and facial contours. Upon enrolling, a resident would be issued a new form of an identification card, containing these biometrics as well as being harder to counterfeit and having a smart-card chip with a digital certificate, allowing for digital signatures. In addition, smart-chip passports can be issued. The law is currently in its trial period, during which enrollment is optional; pending on successful trial, enrollment would be mandatory for all residents upon issuance or replacement of Teudot Zehut .[12]

Opponents of the proposed law, including prominent Israeli scientists and security experts, warned that the existence of such a database could damage both civil liberties and state security, because any leaks could be used by criminals or hostile individuals against Israeli residents.[13][14][15]

Italy

Since 2013, Italy has deployed a number of ePassport gates at major Italian airports allowing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens with a biometric passport to cross the Schengen border in a totally automated way.

Italy has standardized protocols in use by police forces.[16]

Netherlands

Starting 21 September 2009, all new Dutch passports and ID cards must include the holder's fingerprints. Since 26 August 2006, Dutch passports have included an electronic chip containing the personal details of the holder and a digitised passport photograph.[17] The chip holds following data: your name (first name(s) and surname); the document number; your nationality, date of birth and sex; the expiry date; the country of issue; and your personal ID number (Dutch tax and social security (SoFi) number).[18]

Recent requirements for passport photographs

Since 28 August 2006, under EU regulation '2252/2004' all EU member states have been obliged to include a digital image of the holder's passport photograph.[19][20]

New Zealand

SmartGate was launched by the New Zealand government at Auckland International Airport on Thursday 3 December 2009.[21] The program is available at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch international airports for arriving travellers, and also for travellers departing from Auckland (with plans to extend the program for departures from Wellington and Christchurch by mid-2011).[22]

The kiosk and gate system will allow all New Zealand and Australian electronic passport holders over 18 to clear passport control without needing to have their identity checked by a Customs officer. The system uses "advanced facial software" which "compares your face with the digital copy of your photo in your ePassport chip".[23]

Deputy comptroller of customs John Secker said SmartGate represented probably the biggest single development in border processing in New Zealand in the past two decades. People will have a choice whether they want to use the system or go through normal passport control.[24]

Norway

The introduction of biometric passports to Norway began in 2005 and supplied by Setec, a Gemplus International company. The chips used in Norway employ security features recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) although security and privacy concerns from civil liberties groups remain.[25]

In 2007 the Norwegian government launched a ‘multi-modal’ biometric enrolment system supplied by Motorola. Motorola's new system enabled multiple public agencies to digitally capture and store fingerprints, 2D facial images and signatures for passports and visas.[26]

Steria and IDEX ASA are two of the leading biometrics software and product manufacturers in Norway.

Tanzania

Tanzania began its biometric voter registration (BVR) system in February 2015 and planned to use it first in a constitutional referendum and subsequent general elections.[27]

Ukraine

A bill on biometric passports was approved by Ukraine's Parliament on February 15, 2012. These passports are to be used for foreign travel only. Internal passports so far don't have biometric information.[28] An updated version of the law was passed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on November 20, 2012, taking into account proposals made by the president, and was subsequently signed by the president.[29] The new biometric passports are one of the conditions placed on Ukraine by the European Union on the path to easing its visa requirements and eventually moving towards a visa-free regime with the EU. These national ID cards will be valid for 10 years and issued at the age of 14, instead of at the age of 16, as previous Ukrainian passports were. Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Valeriya Lutkovska, had criticized the law as it “does not comply with the Constitution of Ukraine and European standards in the sphere of personal data protection, and might infringe on human rights and freedom.” The law was also criticized by Oleksandr Hladun from the Institute for Demography and Social Studies of Ukraine. He said the adoption such a law on a unified demographic register threatens “to create a police state” in Ukraine, where any information can be collected about any person and used without the person’s knowledge.[30]

According to the new law, each Ukrainian citizen, regardless of his or her age, is obliged to obtain such a passport. The previous version of the Ukrainian passports will remain valid until their official expiration dates.[31]

Ukraine's law on biometric passports came into force on December 6, 2012. The document foresees the introduction of electronic passports containing electronic chips with biometric information for traveling abroad, according to the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to the law, the passports of Ukrainian citizens will be produced in the form of cards with contactless smart chips and issued no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the submission of a relevant application. The electronic passports will include the name of the state, the name of the document, the full name of the holder, the holder's gender, citizenship, date of birth, and a unique number in the register, the number of the document, the document's date of expiration, the date of issue of the document, the name of the agency that issued the document, the place of birth, a photo and the signature of the holder. Information about the parents or the guardian of the holder may be included to the document upon a relevant written request. At the president's request, a new provision has been included in the law that says that people who refuse to enter their personal information in an electronic chip due to their religious beliefs have the right to refuse to use this document or the insertion of such information into the chip.[32]

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has suggested that the new law does not fully comply with international standards.[33]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom utilises biometric in its EPassport gates. UK, EEA, and Swiss Citizens, in addition to people enrolled in its registered traveller scheme, are able to use automated frontier gates at key UK airports.

Fingerprint scanners have been used in some schools to facilitate the subtraction of funds from an account financed by parents for the payment of school dinners. By using such a system nutritional reports can be produced for parents to survey a child's intake. This has raised questions from liberty groups as taking away the liberty of choice from the youth of society. Other concerns arise from the possibility of data leaking from the providers of school meals to interest groups that provide health services such as the NHS and insurance groups that may end up having a detrimental effect on the ability of individuals to enjoy equality of access to services.

United States

Starting in 2005, US passports with facial (image-based) biometric data were scheduled to be produced. Privacy activists in many countries have criticized the technology's use for the potential harm to civil liberties, privacy, and the risk of identity theft. Currently, there is some apprehension in the United States (and the European Union) that the information can be "skimmed" and identify people's citizenship remotely for criminal intent, such as kidnapping.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card, is an ID card issued to all US Service personnel and contractors on US Military sites. This card contains biometric data and digitized photographs. It also has laser-etched photographs and holograms to add security and reduce the risk of falsification. There have been over 10 million of these cards issued.

According to Jim Wayman, director of the National Biometric Test Center at San Jose State University, Walt Disney World is the nation's largest single commercial application of biometrics.[34] However, the US-VISIT program will very soon surpass Walt Disney World for biometrics deployment.

The United States records all fingerprints and a picture of foreign airline passengers visiting the U.S. (excepting Canadians), keeping it in databases for seventy-five years. It is suggested that such information should be shared among the U.S. and other countries that have similar systems. Privacy advocates are worried about data leakage and misuse.[35]

NEXUS is a joint Canada-United States program operated by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is designed to expedite travel cross the US-Canada border and makes use of biometric authentication technology, specifically "iris recognition biometric technology".[5] It permits pre-approved members of the program to use self-serve kiosks at airports, reserved lanes at land crossings, or by phoning border officials when entering by water.

As of February 2018, Utah requires applicants for non-REAL ID driver licenses to provide fingerprints[36], and California[37] and Colorado[38][39] fingerprint all driver license applicants.

Countries with Biometric Voter Registration

The number of countries adopting biometrics for voting registration or voting authentication has steadily increased. As of 2016, half of the countries in Africa and Latin America use this technology in elections.[40] According to the International IDEA’s ICTs in Elections Database,[41] 35 per cent of over 130 surveyed Electoral Commissions is capturing biometric data (such as fingerprints or photos) as part of their voter registration process.[42]

References

  1. ↑ "866 Protection (Class XA) Visa". Immi.gov.au. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  2. ↑ Biometrics Institute Privacy Code
  3. ↑ "Detran – RJ". Detran.rj.gov.br. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  4. ↑ "Ottawa expands biometrics screening for travellers to Canada".
  5. 1 2 "Cross Often? Make it simple, use NEXUS". Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Parafe – Cross borders quickly".
  7. 1 2 Research and Markets ltd. "The Biometrics Market in Germany 2004–2009: Anti-terrorism Laws Drive Growth – Market Research Reports – Research and Markets". Researchandmarkets.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  8. 1 2 IDABC – DE: Germany to phase-in biometric passports from November 2005
  9. ↑ "Migration Information Source – Germany Weighs Biometric Registration Options for Visa Applicants". Migrationinformation.org. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  10. 1 2 "Biometrics used to keep German Olympians safe – Software – Breaking Business and Technology News at silicon.com". Software.silicon.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  11. ↑ Kleinz, Torsten (2008-03-31). "CCC publishes fingerprints of German Home Secretary". The H. Heise Media UK Ltd. Archived from the original on 2010-10-15. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  12. ↑ Anna, Rebecca. "The Jerusalem Post: Knesset approves controversial Biometric Database Law". Jpost.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  13. ↑ "Digital World: Getting to know all about you and me". Fr.jpost.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  14. ↑ "Biometric Database – A Danger to State Security". YNET. 1995-06-20. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  15. ↑ "The Discursive Construction of Biometric Surveillance in the Israeli Press". Journalism Studies. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  16. ↑ Specialist and University Faculty: Enrico Manfredi d'Angrogna Luserna v. Staufen, Rome University Tor Vergata – Siena University.Metodiche diagnostiche in antropologia forense. ELMA, 2005. ISBN 978-88-902428-8-5
  17. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100112210647/http://www.minbuza.nl/en/Services/Consular_Services/Dutch_passport_ID_card/Biometric_passports. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ "Reading the chip". Paspoortinformatie.nl. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  19. ↑ Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. "Biometric passports". Archived from the original on 12 January 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  20. ↑ Criteria for accepting passport photos in Dutch travel documents Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Fotomatrix English" (PDF). Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  21. ↑ "SmartGate – The smart new way to breeze through passport control". Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  22. ↑ "How available is SmartGate?". Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  23. ↑ "How does SmartGate work?". Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  24. ↑ Segedin, Kara (4 December 2009). "Digital gateway opens way for fast-track NZ welcome". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  25. ↑ "Norway, Sweden push ahead with biometric passports". CIO. 2005-11-04. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  26. ↑ http://www.motorola.com/web/Business/Solutions/Federal%20Government/Command,%20Control%20Communications%20&%20Computing/Documents/staticfile/Case_Study_on_Norway.pdf
  27. ↑ web article dated 24 February 2015 in planet biometrics entitled "Biometric voter registration launches in Tanzania" accessed 21 January 2016
  28. ↑ Kyiv Post: Ukraine's government approves bill on biometric passports, February 16, 2012
  29. ↑ Kyiv Post: Yanukovych signs law on biometric passports, November 29, 2012
  30. ↑ Kyiv Post: Rada adopts law on biometric passports, October 18, 2012
  31. ↑ APA: Ukraine introduces biometric passports, 29 November 2012
  32. ↑ Kyiv Post: Law on biometric passports comes into force in Ukraine, December 6, 2012
  33. ↑ BiometricUpdate.com - Ukraine biometric passport law comes into force today, UN refugee agency says it falls short
  34. ↑ "Article describing Disney's 2006 biometric initiative replacing hand geometric scanners with fingerprint readers". Newsinitiative.org. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  35. ↑ "More extensive tourist fingerprinting comes to U.S. ports". Eturbonews.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  36. ↑ "Driving Privilege Card (DPC) - DPS – Driver License". Utah Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  37. ↑ "Driver License (DL) and Identification Card (ID) Information". State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  38. ↑ "Renewals - Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle". Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  39. ↑ "FAQ - Driver License - Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle". Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  40. ↑ Wolf, Peter (2017). "Introducing Biometric Technology in Elections" (PDF). International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
  41. ↑ "ICTs in Elections Database | International IDEA". www.idea.int. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  42. ↑ "If the EMB uses technology to collect voter registration data, is biometric data captured and used during registration? | International IDEA". www.idea.int. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
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