SAGEM Provides European 'Multi-Biometric' Visas For Pilot
May 9, 2005
Groupe SAGEM announced it was selected to integrate a pilot test of European multi-biometric visas. Known as Biodev, the trial is scheduled to begin in the first half of this year and will last one year. SAGEM will equip both European consulates and border posts.
The announcement follows a December 2004 notice in the Official Journal of the European Union that the EU has adopted a regulation (EC No. 2252/2004) outlining standards for security features in passports and travel documents issued by member states. As stipulated by the regulation, passports and/or travel documents will contain a machine-readable biographical data page complying with the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) 9303 Part 1 standard. Passports and travel documents under the terms of the regulation will include a storage medium containing a facial image of the passport/travel document holder in addition to fingerprints in "interoperable formats." The data is to be secured and the storage medium is to have sufficient capacity and capability to guarantee the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data.
In its announced pilot, SAGEM is supplying the enrollment stations and the multi-biometric technology (facial and fingerprint recognition) necessary to create and personalize the travel documents.
The personalization of the "contactless chips," said SAGEM, complies with ICAO standards and protects against identity theft and fraud.
According to the ICAO, a "contactless" integrated circuit (IC) in a "smart card" does not physically contact a card reader (as other cards require) to read information. The ICAO required that the contactless ICs used in Machine Readable Travel Documents should conform to the ISO/IEC 14443 - Identification cards, contactless integrated circuit(s) cards, proximity cards - standard.
SAGEM is also installing a temporary database for visa applicants and a search engine, both to help in fighting identity fraud and prevent multiple requests.
The test is a precursor to the European biometric visa information system, which may be installed throughout the EU's Schengen area, said SAGEM. The pilot system, the company added, will help determine the impact of new control and work procedures on travelers, consular staff and border police.
The pilot test will also allow authorities to verify whether or not documents issued and personalized with different equipment by clients and suppliers in five European countries are interoperable.
Source: Groupe SAGEM, European Union.
| Selected Biometrics Standards |
ANSI INCITS 383
Information Technology - Biometric Profile Interoperability and Data Interchange Biometrics-Based Verification and Identification of Transportation Workers |
ANSI INCITS 394
Information Technology - Application Profile for Interoperability, Data Interchange and Data Integrity of Biometric-Based Personal Identification for Border Management |
ANSI INCITS 395
Information Technology - Biometric Data Interchange Formats - Signature/Sign Data |
ANSI INCITS 398
Information Technology - Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework (CBEFF) |
ANSI INCITS 409.1
Biometric Performance Testing and Reporting Part 1: Principles and Framework |
ANSI INCITS 409.2
Biometric Performance Testing and Reporting Part 2: Technology Testing and Reporting |
ANSI INCITS 409.3
Biometric Performance Testing and Reporting Part 3: Scenario Testing and Reporting |
ANSI INCITS 409.4
Information Technology – Biometric Performance Testing and Reporting – Part 4: Operational Testing Methodologies |
ANSI X9.84
Biometric Information Management and Security for the Financial Services Industry |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19784-1
Information Technology - Biometric application programming interface Part 1: BioAPI specification |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19785-1
Information Technology - Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework Part 1: Data element specification |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19785-2
Information Technology - Common Biometric Exchange Formats Framework Part 2: Procedures for the operation of the Biometric Registration Authority |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19794-1
Information Technology - Biometric data interchange formats Part 1: Framework |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19794-3
Information Technology - Biometric data interchange formats Part 3: Finger pattern spectral data |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19794-4
Information Technology - Biometric data interchange formats Part 4: Finger image data |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19794-5
Information Technology - Biometric data interchange formats Part 5: Face image data |
BSI BS ISO/IEC 19794-6
Information Technology - Biometric data interchange formats Part 6: Iris image data |
CSA ISO/IEC 7816-11-05
Identification cards Integrated circuit cards Part 11: Personal verification through biometric methods-ISO/IEC 7816-11: 2004 |