News in Brief

Biometric Tech Could Kill Off Paper Passports

The boss of the UK’s Border Force has said that advances in biometrics and data security will soon make physical passports redundant.

As increasing numbers of airports around the world are switching to automated border control schemes, and trials are under way to see if machines can now be used to process younger children in Britain. Pilot schemes are taking place in London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, and families with children aged 10 could be able to use the automatic gates this summer, with government approval.

Phil Douglas, Director-General of UK Border Force, speaking at the Airport Operators’ Association conference in London at the end of January, said: ‘I’d like to see a world of completely frictionless borders where you don’t really need a passport. The technology already exists to support that.’ Douglas went on to say that Britain would be increasing the use of advance information supplied online, with next steps including a universal ‘permission to travel’ requirement for all overseas visitors to the UK. Douglas said: ‘In the future, you won’t need a passport – you’ll just need biometrics.’ There are already instances of pilot schemes for air travellers, including from Aruba to Finland, the Netherlands to India.