Biometrics Institute calls for more collaboration between border agencies, aviation industry and biometrics industry to create safer travel

The Biometrics Institute, the independent and international impartial body representing the users, vendors and researchers of biometrics is calling for closer collaboration between border agencies and the aviation industry to create safer travel.

Locking identity down on arrival and departure supported by biometric checks against watch-lists is the future,” says Isabelle Moeller, Chief Executive of the independent Biometrics Institute, “this ideally needs to happen at check-in and again at departure gates”.

E-passports are already in use in many countries and Automated Border Control (ABC) gates have proved successful in several countries in verifying identities based on comparing a live facial image to data stored in an e-passport for example.

Various biometric modalities have been used in this way including iris, fingerprint and face. This capability could be used not only at check-in but also at departure.

Fingerprints can be used at border crossing points to check large watch-list databases in real time for immigration and law enforcement records using 1-many algorithms. Fingerprint biometrics can also be used for data matching between immigration agencies internationally including pre-visa checks, and trusted or facilitated traveller schemes where some travellers are vetted or cleared for access to biometric ABC gates.

Usability and environmental factors need to be taken very seriously not only in regards to security but also regarding privacy.

“It is the interests of our members and society at large to ensure that biometrics are implemented responsibly and are privacy positive” she said. “Biometrics offer opportunities to make travel safer but some risks will always remain.”

The Biometrics Institute members include immigration, customs and defence agencies, police, airlines, banks, university research groups and many other significant users and vendors of biometrics around the world.

The Biometrics Institute is holding its 2nd Identities at the Borders seminar in Brussels on the 29 April 2014 which will bring together border agencies and aviation industry professionals to discuss the future of travel. Other important events include the “Asia-Pacific Conference 2014” on the 28-29 May 2014 in Sydney followed by the “Digital Identities seminar” in Wellington on the 4 June and “Biometrics 2014: The future of identity starts here!” on the 21-23 October 2014 in London.