The US will photograph foreigners entering and leaving the country to create a facial recognition database
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is introducing new rules that will allow it to photograph all foreigners entering or leaving the country. This is reported by Engadget. .
The goal of the innovation is to create a large-scale database for facial recognition systems. According to documents filed with the Federal Register, CBP, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security, plans to strengthen the fight against terrorist threats, fraudulent use of travel documents and violations of the terms of stay in the country.
The filing states that CBP will implement an integrated automated entry-exit data system to match records, including biographical data and biometric data, of aliens entering and leaving the United States.
Previously, CBP already had the authority to require photographs and fingerprints of individuals entering the United States. Now, the new rules expand that authority to include those leaving the country.
The resulting images will form galleries of images associated with individuals, including photos taken by border agents, as well as photos from passports or other travel documents. These galleries will be used to automatically compare photos taken at border crossings during entry and exit.
The new rules will take effect on December 26, 2025. At the same time, CBP will need some time to implement a technical infrastructure capable of processing the large volume of new data. The service estimates that the biometric entry-exit system can be fully implemented at all commercial airports and seaports for both entry and exit within the next three to five years.
