USA offers foreign states access to 1.1 billion biometric “encounters” in return for reciprocal database access
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is touting ‘Enhanced Border Security Agreements’, offering access to its vast biometric databanks in exchange for other states reciprocating.
Reports suggest the UK is already participating, although there is no official confirmation of this. In the EU the proposals have caused a furore amongst privacy-minded MEPs.
Amongst the purported benefits of detecting criminals and terrorists, the document also refers to “Enhanced Capacity to Share Information Across Ministries and Agencies”; “Advanced Data Analysis”; and “Possible Integration with Other U.S. Programs”. There is no detail on what those programs are.
