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Biometric passports deadline extended by one year
NEWS passports
Biometric passports deadline extended by one year The 27 countries involved in the US Visa Waiver programme have been granted a much-needed one-year extension to a deadline that requires them to start issuing biometric passports. The bill, H.R. 4417, was passed through the US House of Representatives and then got the stamp of approval by the Senate at the end of July. It has now been sent to president Bush for his signature. The legislation also gives US ports of entry a year longer to install equipment and software capable of processing machinereadable entry and exit documents that contain biometric identifiers. House Judiciary Committee chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, the author of H.R. 4417, said: “While this one-year extension provides more time to meet the requirement, this additional breathing space should not lead visa waiver countries, nor our own government, to become complacent. Prompt implementation of this biometric identifier requirement will close several security loopholes. First, it will allow
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspectors at ports-of-entry to determine whether a passport properly identifies its bearer...Second, it will make passports much harder to alter or counterfeit. Third, in conjunction with the installation of scanners at ports-of-entry to read the passports, and completion of exit controls, the DHS can track the arrival and departure of travelers and identify those who overstay their visas.” The 2002 Border Security Act had originally required the Visa Waiver Programme countries to certify they have programmes in place to issue their nationals machine-readable passports that are tamper resistant and incorporate biometric identifiers, no later than October 26, 2004. In March this year, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge had recommended a two-year extension beyond the October 2004 deadline. They argued that countries need time to solve technical problems such as chip durability and to resolve privacy questions. If the deadline were missed, they
said, millions more visas would have to be issued, overwhelming US consular offices.
passports
Australia seeks ePassport bids… The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is ramping up its efforts to introduce new biometric ePassports by opening the floor to bids for the supply of integrated circuit (IC) chips, inlays, software, hardware and services. DFAT’s Passports Branch is undertaking a research and development programme to enhance the security and integrity of its passports issuing process. This programme includes the development of an ePassport – including the insertion of a chip into the passport that conforms to International Civil Continued on page 2...
Comment The news that British passport holders must keep their lips together when having their photo taken would not appear to be sensational. But with tabloid editors involved, this became a prime opportunity to create good biometric-bashing headlines. “No smiles please, we’re British”, “New passport laws force Brits to keep a stiff upper lip”. The list was almost endless. The reason for this directive on ‘smiling’ is part of the effort to help facial recognition systems work better. And they need the help. This month’s lead story shows how the daggers are out for facial recognition, with fingerprinting seen as a much better bet. With accuracy rates at 90%, passport control using facial verifications would seem to be a problem. However, saying that fingerprints should replace faces as the lead biometric could be a step too far.
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There are many reasons why fingerprint technology would not be suitable – as established by ICAO when it said that face would be the best option. First, the nationals of many countries would not swallow such a system – making it difficult to agree a global standard. Secondly, roughly 2% of the population cannot physically have their fingerprint scanned. Thirdly, logistics: rather than posting a photograph, millions of applicants would need to visit fingerprinting stations creating a burden on resources. It should also be considered that facial recognition statistics are not up-to-date (perhaps two years old). Standardisation of images should produce substantial accuracy gains, and new technology breakthroughs should also help push up accuracy. All that said, it seems that while facial recognition suppliers may still have reason to smile, the jury is definitely out. Mark Lockie
Editorial Office: Elsevier Advanced Technology, PO Box 150, Kidlington, Oxford, UK, OX5 1AS Tel: +44 1491 411224 Fax: +44 1865 843971 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.compseconline.com
Editor: Mark Lockie In-House Editor: Nova Dudley Production/Design Controller: Olly Walter
In next month’s issue In next month’s issue of Btt we will turn the spotlight on the dynamic signature verification market. With many suppliers struggling to keep their heads above water we assess just how dynamic this market is and take a look at where the future lies for this technology. Plus all the regular sections, including news, comment, features and in-depth business analysis.
Biometric Technology Today • September 2004
Biometric passports deadline extended by one year The 27 countries involved in the US Visa Waiver programme have been granted a much-needed one-year extension to a deadline that requires them to start issuing biometric passports. The bill, H.R. 4417, was passed through the US House of Representatives and then got the stamp of approval by the Senate at the end of July. It has now been sent to president Bush for his signature. The legislation also gives US ports of entry a year longer to install equipment and software capable of processing machinereadable entry and exit documents that contain biometric identifiers. House Judiciary Committee chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, the author of H.R. 4417, said: “While this one-year extension provides more time to meet the requirement, this additional breathing space should not lead visa waiver countries, nor our own government, to become complacent. Prompt implementation of this biometric identifier requirement will close several security loopholes. First, it will allow
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspectors at ports-of-entry to determine whether a passport properly identifies its bearer...Second, it will make passports much harder to alter or counterfeit. Third, in conjunction with the installation of scanners at ports-of-entry to read the passports, and completion of exit controls, the DHS can track the arrival and departure of travelers and identify those who overstay their visas.” The 2002 Border Security Act had originally required the Visa Waiver Programme countries to certify they have programmes in place to issue their nationals machine-readable passports that are tamper resistant and incorporate biometric identifiers, no later than October 26, 2004. In March this year, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge had recommended a two-year extension beyond the October 2004 deadline. They argued that countries need time to solve technical problems such as chip durability and to resolve privacy questions. If the deadline were missed, they
said, millions more visas would have to be issued, overwhelming US consular offices.
passports
Australia seeks ePassport bids… The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is ramping up its efforts to introduce new biometric ePassports by opening the floor to bids for the supply of integrated circuit (IC) chips, inlays, software, hardware and services. DFAT’s Passports Branch is undertaking a research and development programme to enhance the security and integrity of its passports issuing process. This programme includes the development of an ePassport – including the insertion of a chip into the passport that conforms to International Civil Continued on page 2...
Comment The news that British passport holders must keep their lips together when having their photo taken would not appear to be sensational. But with tabloid editors involved, this became a prime opportunity to create good biometric-bashing headlines. “No smiles please, we’re British”, “New passport laws force Brits to keep a stiff upper lip”. The list was almost endless. The reason for this directive on ‘smiling’ is part of the effort to help facial recognition systems work better. And they need the help. This month’s lead story shows how the daggers are out for facial recognition, with fingerprinting seen as a much better bet. With accuracy rates at 90%, passport control using facial verifications would seem to be a problem. However, saying that fingerprints should replace faces as the lead biometric could be a step too far.
12
There are many reasons why fingerprint technology would not be suitable – as established by ICAO when it said that face would be the best option. First, the nationals of many countries would not swallow such a system – making it difficult to agree a global standard. Secondly, roughly 2% of the population cannot physically have their fingerprint scanned. Thirdly, logistics: rather than posting a photograph, millions of applicants would need to visit fingerprinting stations creating a burden on resources. It should also be considered that facial recognition statistics are not up-to-date (perhaps two years old). Standardisation of images should produce substantial accuracy gains, and new technology breakthroughs should also help push up accuracy. All that said, it seems that while facial recognition suppliers may still have reason to smile, the jury is definitely out. Mark Lockie
Editorial Office: Elsevier Advanced Technology, PO Box 150, Kidlington, Oxford, UK, OX5 1AS Tel: +44 1491 411224 Fax: +44 1865 843971 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.compseconline.com
Editor: Mark Lockie In-House Editor: Nova Dudley Production/Design Controller: Olly Walter
In next month’s issue In next month’s issue of Btt we will turn the spotlight on the dynamic signature verification market. With many suppliers struggling to keep their heads above water we assess just how dynamic this market is and take a look at where the future lies for this technology. Plus all the regular sections, including news, comment, features and in-depth business analysis.
Biometric Technology Today • September 2004