Facial recognition trials to determine the only way passengers can enter the UK under the Home Office’s proposal to bring ‘frictionless travel’ at the border will commence in 2024.
The trials are steeped in anticipation for easier and safer travel plans for millions around the world, but will facilitate management of UK borders first of all, as marking a significant step towards the establishment of an ‘intelligent border’. Having explored contactless ‘corridors’ with biometric cameras lining the touchpoints at various UK airports, the Home Office has regularly hinted at its development of ‘intelligent borders’.
This shortly follows the deployed digital infrastructure enabling an electronic travel authorisation system for non-visa foreign arrivals. The e-document system will further help to control legitimate entry/exit travel by requiring travellers to simply download an app to answer some pre-travel questions, scan their passport and provide selfie verification. The data shared with travel and government authorities will allow previous visits to be reviewed for protecting national security and controlling immigration.
