The European Union's project to create a “mega file” of biometric data voted in 2019 is gaining momentum. Two French companies, IDEMIA and Sopra Steria, were chosen to be in charge of building this database shared between the different countries of the Union. A task that will be complex since it is a question of bringing together the biometric data - fingerprints and photos - of more than 400 million European and non-European nationals who cross the borders of the Schengen area. A project for which the EU has released a budget of 302 million euros.
The objective of creating this mega-file is to improve "the exchange of data between EU information systems to manage borders, security and migration". By centralizing information, it will no longer be necessary to query several databases such as Eurodac (European register of fingerprints of asylum seekers) or VIS (visa information system) to verify the identity of a person, but only one which will obviously be more complete and effective.
Customs, law enforcement and judicial authorities will be able to use this new system to search for information on people by name, fingerprint or photo. The biometric database will play a central role in the new European entry / exit system (ESS) set up at the borders of the EU. This system will replace the stamp on the passport and make it possible to record the date and place of entry and exit of nationals - with a length of stay limited to 90 days -, as well as their identity documents.
"This shared biometric matching system (...) will become one of the most important biometric systems in the world when it integrates all existing and future biometric databases in the European Union," the EU said in its press release.
A single target
The collection of biometric data from more than 400 million nationals in a single file raises certain questions, in particular in terms of privacy due to the interoperability of the database, but also security. Statewatch, an NGO that monitors states, justice and home affairs (JHA), security and civil liberties in the European Union, had also spoken out against the project.
Besides that, the file could "facilitate the work" of malicious people and other foreign powers since they will no longer have to attack several sensitive databases. Centralization of data could be a problem in the event of a security breach or bug. It will be the information of more than 400 million individuals who will be potentially exposed.
The shared biometric correspondence system (sBMS) project should be set up by 2022, which still leaves time for the EU and the two firms in charge of building the database to refine the details. Two issues appear to be crucial by then, namely respecting the privacy of the people listed in the mega file as well as the security of the latter in view of what it contains.
Society
The Council of State validates the creation of a mega-file gathering the personal data of 60 million French people
Justice
Marseille: A biometric video surveillance system attacked before the administrative court
- Freedom
- Europe
- Migrations
- Cybersecurity
- security
- Borders
- Personal data
- EU
- High-Tech