ALKHOBAR, 14 February 2006 — In a follow-up on last week’s article on Air Transport Security there have been two announcements on moves the US and the UK are taking independently to use information technology combined with biometrics to improve efficiencies in regards to air transportation security.
Regular travelers to the UK are being invited to join the Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS). The IRIS program has been introduced to offer travelers a much more efficient and convenient way to clear immigration at major UK airports. The scheme is aimed at foreign nationals who are permanently or temporarily resident in the UK and those who travel to the UK frequently.
According to an e-mail circulated to members of the British Airways Executive Club: “This new process is a safe, secure and an accurate way of verifying your identity. It also reduces the time spent waiting in long immigration queues. You can enroll at Terminals 2 and 4 at London Heathrow by completing a simple enrollment process in the departure lounge before leaving the UK. An Immigration Officer will record your personal data into a secure database and a photograph is taken of your iris patterns. This is just as safe as taking a normal photograph and the entire process usually only takes five minutes.”
On returning to the UK as an IRIS registered customer, the passenger can proceed to an automated barrier at immigration control and look into an iris recognition camera. Provided the iris details are the same as those held in the database, the barrier will admit the passenger into the UK. For more information on IRIS, visit www.iris.gov.uk.
In the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has put forward several parameters for a nationwide private sector Registered Traveler (RT) program, including the biometrics to be used for identification purposes and the redress process for individuals who are denied access to the program. The Registered Traveler program is envisioned as a means to accelerate the screening process at participating airports for passengers who voluntarily choose to enroll in the program.
In order to give industry the opportunity to begin offering Registered Traveler programs later this year, TSA is directing RT program providers to collect 10 fingerprint images from each applicant. This biometric information will be used to verify participant identity at RT checkpoints. With 10 fingerprints on the participant’s smart card, the likelihood that identity can be accurately confirmed is improved.
To store biometric data for identity confirmation, RT programs will utilize Smart Card technology that conforms to current US Federal Technical Implementation Guidance (see http://smart.gov), and biometrics will be stored consistent with biometric standards established by the American National Standards Institute/InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (ANSI/INCITS). All Registered Traveler data will be handled in compliance with the US Federal Privacy Act.
The Registered Traveler programs will be market-driven and offered by the private sector. Individual participation in a Registered Traveler program will be entirely voluntary, with prices established by private sector providers. TSA will mandate a core RT security assessment for each applicant to a Registered Traveler program. If RT providers undertake more in-depth security background checks (e.g., by using commercial data specifically authorized by customers, or by other voluntary means), TSA will offer a variety of enhanced or time-saving participant benefits at passenger screening checkpoints. Participants may receive significant efficiency benefits over what exists today, if additional security is added by a more thorough background check.
If the RT businesses wish to make investments in approved screening equipment, fund additional screeners, and/or obtain space for separate RT screening, then TSA is prepared to authorize the use of dedicated screening lanes or alternative screening locations for RT participants. For further information please see: www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=40&content=090005198018c349.