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Get set for iris scans, fingerprinting |
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Thousands of newcomers will soon face iris scans, digitized
face captures and fingerprinting as part of the entry process to Canada.
The move is part of a pilot project aimed at bolstering border security.
The six-month trial by Citizenship and Immigration Canada is one of the
first federal forays into realm of biometric technologies.
The government is looking at the collection and use of biometric data
of about one million people annually, from visitors and refugee
claimants to permanent residents and new citizens.
During the life of the pilot project, some 18,000 foreign nationals -
refugee claimants, temporary resident visa applicants, and student and
temporary worker applicants - will have their digitized facial images
and inkless finger scans captured and stored in a database.
The project follows the recommendations of a report, Biometrics: CIC
Business Requirements, completed by a consultant last December under
the direction of Citizenship and Immigration's enforcement branch.
It states biometrics - measurable physical characteristics such as
facial appearance, iris recognition or fingerprints - is a means of
linking a document-holder to the right to travel or receive government
services.
"Biometric technologies potentially add an additional layer of security
to a program, supporting the anti-terrorism agenda," the report said.
According to Canadian Press, CIC plans to collect biometrics from
applicants at the Greater Toronto Area refugee claimant centre and visa
offices in Seattle and Hong Kong.
Some biometric data are already required from potential newcomers to
Canada. The pilot project, however, will give authorities the tools to
match photos and fingerprints against existing files to help screen out
ineligible applicants, such as individuals on criminal watch lists.
Once a visa is issued, it will also allow officials to electronically
check the document once the individual arrives in Canada, the Canadian
Press report added.
Immigration Department spokeswoman Cara Prest was quoted as saying
information collected during the pilot project will be used only for
the purpose of testing the new technology.
"The biometric information will not be used to grant or deny visas or
entry, and matching against watch lists will not be done in this early
test. This trial is simply an evaluation of the technology and the
process," Prest told Canadian Press.
Individuals will be informed about the purpose of the trial, though currently there is no plan to have them sign consent forms.
Use of biometrics at Canada's entry points is not new. Canada Customs
already uses fingerscans to ease the flow of goods between the US and
Canada. Truck drivers have their fingerprints registered in order to
pass through borders smoothly.
Frequent travellers who want faster customs service have also been able
to opt for iris scanning as proof of identity in Calgary, Halifax,
Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
Upon re-entering Canada, registered users proceed to a designated kiosk
in the international arrivals area, present their original passport and
pause for an iris scan. Once the iris scan is complete, the traveller
is asked to answer a series of routine customs questions.
Upon answering all questions appropriately and submitting to the iris
scan, most travellers are cleared for entry and allowed to proceed
without any additional processing by an immigration officer.
Eventually, biometric identifiers will be used for all Canadian
travellers. The next generation of Canada's passport will include a
computer chip with data about the holder.
Australia, Britain, the European Union, Japan and the United States
have all begun exploring the use of biometric identifiers to handle the
flow of travellers.
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Newsfile 