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only fingerprinting? (Score:3, Insightful)
All of the EU countries must start complying with the US demand that all EU passports must contain biometric data [helsinki-hs.net] by late next year. Any citizens of a country who doesn't comply has to appy for a visa for a trip of any length. You have to wonder what the US intends to do with this data. GATTACA may have been prescient rather than an entertaining futuristic fiction.
Fingerprinting takes too long but the retinal scanners are still very expensive. Who knows if they'll even have the smartchip infrastructure available in the next few years in order to use what they're demanding. Of course, the easy solution for everyone outside the US is to not enter the US, especially after Dubya gets 4 more followed by 4-8 of Jeb.
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Re:only fingerprinting? (Score:3, Insightful)
"I can't afford a retinal scan, so I guess I'll blow something up in some other country"
-matt
(tounge in cheek)
Re:only fingerprinting? (Score:3, Insightful)
unlikely. :) It'll just up the stakes for identity forgers around the world. Just wait until the biometrics database gets hacked. It'll have an even further negative effect on the travel industry, too. I'm sure yankees will see biometric data on their passports as soon as the external proof of concept works out.
As a passport toting yankee I'm afraid to enter US airspace, especially with Jarkko, because police, irrational fear and guns generally make for a volatile and extremely uncomfortable environment..
Re:only fingerprinting? (Score:1)
You give Andrew Niccol's writing far too much credit for being either precient or entertaining. Fiction I'd agree with.