Japan’s Justice Ministry is preparing new legislation that will pave the way for a biometric entry and exit program for citizens traveling to and from the country’s airports, reports The Japan Times.
The system being planned will use facial recognition to match travelers’ live images to those stored in their passports, with the aim being to expedite the screening process for citizens. Three such biometric eGates are planned for deployment at Tokyo’s Haneda airport this autumn, with three more major airport deployments to take place in 2018.
The effort is in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, for which government authorities are also preparing a biometric payments system that will link visitors’ fingerprints to their passport and payment information, allowing them to check into hotels and make purchases with the tap of a finger. And it reflects a growing enthusiasm for biometric airport screening around the world, both from government authorities seeking greater security and air travel companies looking to improve efficiency and the customer experience.
First, though, the Ministry must change an immigration control law to allow authorities to electronically store passenger records; it’s seeking public comment on the legislation now.
Source: The Japan Times
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July 5, 2017 – by Alex Perala
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