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Cyprus Biometric Passports

13th October 2009

It is expected that the Cyprus Ministry of Interior will unveil a 3.2 million euro biometric passport project in 2010. EU rules which were passed by MEP’s in Brussels in January 2009, stipulate that all EU countries, should start issuing passports containing biometric elements - such as facial images and fingerprints - as of 29 June 2009, however EU states have until 2012 to fully implement the rules and current passports will remain valid for travelling for most countries until then.

The harmonised introduction of biometric identifiers in passports of EU citizens not only ensures that the identity of the holder can be easily established, but will also protect against identity fraud. The new legislation also introduces the so-called ‘one person, one passport’ principle, aiming particularly at combating the trafficking of children by introducing passports for them. In the past, parents' passports often covered their children as well.

The passports will include a microchip, which will store an individual’s fingerprints, facial image and electronic signature. However, in a compromise agreed by both the European Commission and the Parliament, children under 12 years of age, as well as people with certain disabilities that make them unable to give finger prints will be exempt from having fingerprints included in their passports. Pilot projects in some countries found the fingerprints of young children not to be sufficiently reliable, because they change as the child grows older.

Cypriot MEP Adamos Adamou from the GUE/NGL group raised concerns about the introduction of biometric passports in January 2009, before the rules were approved, saying: "The political scope of this regulation clearly seeks to legalise the use of biometric data and puts us in a state of mind of constant surveillance and deprivation of privacy. More security measures and data collection only leads to abuses of authority and offences against political liberties ".

So what is a biometric passport?

Information from the UK foreign Office website states that;

A biometric passport carries biometric information linking a person to their passport. Biometric verification can be used at border controls and to check that the image on a passport renewal application matches the images we hold on record.

We can also use biometric information to:

• Allow automated immigration checks in the future

• Make sure British citizens can still travel to the USA visa-free

• Make sure British passport holders are not at a disadvantage as other countries switch to biometric passports.

Why biometrics?

Because of the increasing threat of identity fraud we need to strengthen security features in passports. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which sets international standards, chose facial recognition as the main biometric measure. Iris and fingerprint recognition are a back-up, but they are not compulsory.

How do facial biometrics work?

Facial recognition maps the various features on the face - for example, the distances between eyes, nose, mouth and ears. These measurements are digitally coded and can then be used for comparison and verification purposes. Biometric technology is perfectly safe because facial biometrics can be taken from a good quality passport photo.





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