Brazil’s Receita Federal has begun testing contactless palm biometrics for traveller authentication at the Friendship International Bridge customs facility in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. The pilot uses biometric checks to automate passage records and support customs risk assessment at a busy land-border crossing.
The trial started on October 1 and will run throughout the month. Officials will evaluate technical performance, operating procedures, legal considerations and personal-data protection in a live environment before deciding on further implementation stages. Reducing queues is among the potential benefits to be assessed during the pilot.
Itaipu Parquetec is participating through the Muralha Inteligente, or Smart Wall, cooperation agreement. Its role includes technical validation of the suppliers and technologies used in the project. Receita Federal and its partners will monitor the trial and examine any changes needed to improve the system.
The palm check authenticates travellers without physical contact with the equipment. Receita Federal says the process can be completed in seconds. Automated passage information is intended to help customs direct staff and inspections toward situations requiring closer attention, rather than applying additional controls to travellers indiscriminately.
The pilot does not change existing customs requirements, including goods declarations and duty-free allowances. Officers remain responsible for analysis and inspection, with the biometric system supporting traveller-flow management and the allocation of enforcement resources.
The agency says personal information will be handled under data-protection requirements, with security mechanisms, access controls, traceability and audit functions. It describes the permitted uses as traveller authentication, customs control and risk management within the project’s institutional purposes.
Palm biometrics are being used in several distinct settings. Tencent Cloud introduced camera-based palmprint verification for applications and online services, using visible palm patterns captured by ordinary color cameras. The customs pilot applies palm authentication to traveller passage records and risk management at the crossing.
Land-border authorities are also testing other biometric modalities. The US Department of Homeland Security tested walk-through facial capture at the Progreso International Bridge in Texas, examining how pedestrian images could be matched without requiring travellers to stop. Both projects involve live border environments, but use different biometric approaches.
At Foz do Iguaçu, the October evaluation will combine passage-flow observations with technical, operational and data-protection reviews. Receita Federal will analyze the results with its project partners as the month-long trial proceeds.
Sources: Receita Federal
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
