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Iris Scanners in Canadian Airports
Ian_Bailey writes "The Toronto Star is reporting that the first biometrics (Iris-scanning specifically) devices in airport will be in place in Toronto and Vancouver starting in March. These devices are meant to speed-up the check-in process for frequent travellers, without compromising security. It is stressed that privacy advocates have nothing to worry about, because they are completely voluntary and cannot be used to scan without a person's knowledge, but there is a brief note about using it in the future for staff."
Can it easily tell if you're gay (as most users of MacOS are)?
I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Horror/Sci Fi writer Stephen King was found dead in his Maine home this morning. There weren't any more details. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an American icon.
In case of late-night slashdotting, here's the article:
... reduces the size of that haystack," Caplan said.
... reduces the size of that haystack.'
Customs, travellers will soon see eye to eye
Iris scans promise quicker trips through airports
By Susan Pigg
business Reporter
Advertisement:
WHO'S WHO: Elinor Caplan demonstrates the biometric technology that identifies fliers by their eyes.
If you're thinking that the $39 million iris-scanning program announced for Canada's major airports yesterday is just a clever new way to avoid those sometimes awkward and embarrassing eyeball-to-eyeball encounters with customs agents, think again.
The 12 kiosks that will go into service at Pearson airport and the Vancouver airport next March may be the ideal way for frequent fliers to save time, but there will still be random checks and customs agents watching to see if passengers are smuggling in an extra bottle of booze.
"People who sign up are expected to obey the law, as they have in the past," said National Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan, after unveiling one of the kiosks at Pearson's Terminal 3.
Toronto and Vancouver are about to become the first airports in North America to use biometrics -- iris recognition technology -- to try to cut frustrating waits for frequent travellers without jeopardizing security. Within five years, 27 of the machines, which look like an express check-in kiosk with a lens, will be in place at eight Canadian airports under the CANPASS-Air pilot project.
The United States is looking at the technology as well.
The iris scan is touted as being virtually foolproof as an identification tool because the colourful ring around the pupil is unique from eyeball to eyeball and person and person. Unlike a fingerprint, it can't be replicated, and the machines recognize only "live" eyes.
"With 300,000 people crossing the border every day, experts say looking for a terrorist in a crowd like that is like looking for a needle in a haystack. This technology
The machines are meant to ensure that costly post-Sept. 11 security at Canada's airports is focused on "people we don't know instead of those that we trust," she added.
`Looking for a terrorist in a crowd like that is like looking for a needle in a haystack. This technology
National Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan
For a $50 annual fee, Canadian and U.S. citizens will be able to register for a CANPASS-Air card starting in January. They'll have to pass annual background checks for criminal or immigration offences to get their photo ID card.
Like other travellers entering the country, participants will still have to fill out declaration cards on the plane, detailing how much they spent while out of the country. But instead of having to line up at the customs counter behind a planeload of fellow passengers, participants can just swipe their card at a designated kiosk and put an eyeball up to the lens. When a match is registered, the machine prints out a ticket.
If a passholder goes over the $200 to $750 travellers are allowed to spend, depending on the length of stay outside Canada, the machine will even charge any duties to a preapproved credit card number.
But even CANPASS participants can't avoid customs altogether. An agent won't let participants exit the customs area until they've handed over both the ticket and declaration card. Passholders will also be subject to random checks.
The kiosks, designed by IBM, use technology developed by New Jersey-based Iridian Technologies but marketed and distributed by Mississauga-based RYCOM Inc.
Similar technology is already used in airports in the Netherlands and Britain, as well as some prisons, where it's used to prescreen staff and frequent visitors.
In time, it could also be used to scan airport staff.
While there are privacy concerns around the technology, Caplan stressed it is a voluntary program. The machines screen an iris from a limited range of just 8 to 25 centimetres, making them incapable of acting like traffic-light cameras -- able to do a scan without a person's knowledge.
New security and detection devices continue to be added to airports, ports and border crossings. Caplan said 369 new staff have been hired, 130 at border crossings alone, since last year's terrorist attacks.