New EU proposals foresee mandatory biometrics in national ID cards
The European Commission has proposed a host of new measures aimed at “denying terrorists the means to act” which include the mandatory inclusion of two biometrics – fingerprints and a facial image – in all ID cards and residence documents for European Union citizens and their family members issued by Member States.
According to the Commission’s proposal: “Up to 370 of the 440 million citizens in 26 Member States (DK [Denmark] and UK do not issue ID cards – Ireland is unsure whether it issues obligatory ID cards or not) could hold national ID cards”, although “identity card ownership is common and compulsory in 15 Member States” and there are five other Member States in which citizens “are obliged to hold a non-specific document for identification purposes. In practice this very frequently is an identity card”.
The measure essentially aims at fingerprinting the majority of EU citizens – which will compliment the fingerprinting of non-EU citizens as required by the Visa Information System (VIS), for those who require a visa to enter the bloc, and as foreseen by the Entry/Exit System, which will hold the fingerprints on almost all non-EU nationals exempt from visa requirements.
A document released alongside the proposals states:
“It is estimated that 80 million Europeans currently have non-machine readable ID cards without biometric identifiers. As many of the EU’s security measures rely on secure travel and identity documents – such as the systematic checks carried out at the external borders on all citizens using the Schengen Information System – this creates a security gap, because of the increased risk of falsification and identity fraud. It also leads to practical difficulties for citizens when travelling or moving to another Member State.
The Commission is therefore proposing measures to strengthen the security features of ID cards and residence documents of EU citizens and their non-EU family members. More secure documents will enhance EU external border management, increase the protection against falsification and document fraud and make it more difficult to misuse or copy such documents. This will benefit the security of all citizens, public authorities and businesses.”
Proposals for new rules on national ID cards have been put forth alongside proposed measures to ease cross-border access to financial information for law enforcement authorities; to make the acquisition of explosives precursors more difficult; and for stricter controls on the import and export of firearms.
On 16 April, the Commission also published a proposal for new rules allowing easier cross-border access to data (referred to as “e-evidence” for political purposes) for police and judicial authorities, with the measures “maximising risks for fundamental rights violations”.
Alongside the new proposals came the latest progress report on the Security Union: Fourteeneth progress report towards an effective and genuine Security Union (COM(2018) 211 final).
Some official documentation (such as impact assessments) is currently unavailable.
This article was originally published by EDRi member Statewatch at http://www.statewatch.org/news/2018/apr/eu-security-union-id-cards.htm
Security Union: Commission presents new measures to deny terrorists and criminals the means and space to act (17.04.2018)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2018/apr/eu-com-security-union-measures-denying-terrorists-pr-17-4-18.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions: Security Union – Denying terrorists the means to act (17.04.2018)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2018/apr/eu-com-security-union-measures-denying-terrorists-faq-17-4-18.pdf
Proposal for a Regulation on strengthening the security of identity cards of Union citizens and of residence documents issued to Union citizens and their family members exercising their right of free movement (COM(2018) 212 final) (17.04.2018)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2018/apr/eu-com-security-union-identity-cards-residence-docs-com-2018-212.pdf
Impact assessment (SWD(2018) 110 final) (17.04.2018)
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2018/apr/eu-com-security-union-identity-cards-residence-docs-ia-swd-2018-110.pdf
(Contribution by EDRi member Statewatch, the United Kingdom)
