eu-LISA Details Schengen Biometrics in New ‘Technology Briefs’

The European Union’s agency for border control and law enforcement IT has launched a new series of “Technology Briefs” that are meant to offer a look at key technologies being used in the systems it oversees.

eu-LISA, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, is responsible for the development, operational management, and evolution of critical IT systems used in the Schengen Information System (SIS), Visa Information System (VIS), and the European Dactyloscopy Database (EURODAC). eu-LISA also works on new systems like the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Authorisation System (ETIAS).

In a LinkedIn post announcing the Technology Briefs, eu-LISA explained that they are meant to cover “the thriving technologies that are an integral part of the Digital Heart of Schengen, and are instrumental in helping eu-LISA to reach its objective of building an open and secure Europe.”

Its series has begun with a pair of publications focused on biometric technology. “Biometric Technology, Part 1: A Paradigm Shift in Identity Management and Security Technologies”, the first of the documents, is a kind of primer on biometric technology in general.

The second document delves into more detail about how biometric tech is being used specifically in the context of border protection in the European Union’s Schengen area, a zone of relatively free travel and commerce among numerous EU states. It’s titled, “Biometric Technology, Part 2: What Added Value Does eu-LISA Bring Through Biometrics?”

Since the signing of the Schengen Agreement and the subsequent abolition of internal borders among EU countries, there has been a need to bolster the zone’s external borders through advanced technological measures. eu-LISA manages several key systems, including the Schengen Information System (SIS), Visa Information System (VIS), and the European Dactyloscopy Database (EURODAC). And the agency is developing new systems such as the biometric EES and ETIAS, which will further streamline border management and enhance security.

Biometric technology is integral to the interoperability of these systems, facilitating information sharing and improved identity management. The Shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) and the Common Identity Repository (CIR) are key components enabling biometric-based searches and storage.

The Brief underscores the added value of biometrics for various stakeholders: it simplifies and speeds up border crossings for travelers, combats identity fraud and illegal migration for citizens, and aids law enforcement by streamlining manual processes and focusing on critical tasks. However, the use of biometrics also presents challenges, such as ensuring data protection, maintaining high data quality, preventing algorithmic biases, and addressing biometric vulnerabilities.

eu-LISA emphasizes that it is committed to overcoming these challenges through continuous research and collaboration with the scientific community and industry experts.

With respect to Schengen’s biometric border system in particular, it has been delayed multiple times over the last few years as various member states have raced to get the necessary IT systems in place. It’s now expected to go into operation in October of this year—and the looming implementation is causing anxiety at the border between France and the United Kingdom, given the latter’s exit from the European Union several years ago.

Source: eu-LISA

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July 11, 2024 – by Alex Perala