SecureIDNews | Swiss to vote on biometric IDs

Friday, October 3, 2008

Switzerland’s citizens are set to vote on whether or not they want passports and ID cards embedded with chips containing biometric information, according to a Swiss Info article. This past March the Swiss parliament approved a country-wide implementation of biometric passports and ID cards for their citizens, however, the program’s opponents collected 55,000 signatures to oppose it.

The system was a requirement of Switzerland signed Schengen open-border treaty; however, it has been suspended under privacy and security concerns by its political and civil opponents.

Read the full story here

After long delays, Algeria launches biometric passports

After a nearly three-year delay, the Algerian government has finally launched its biometric passport program.

Magharebia reports that the biometric passports, which contain a contactless smart card chip that holds a digitized photo, fingerprints and signature, were supposed to be released in 2009. But the documents were delayed due to complexities with the operation of the project and the need to thoroughly research and analyze other countries’ experiences with biometric passports.

New biometric market report for India released

A new report on the market for biometric technology in India forecasted a 42.4% compound annual growth rate for the industry in the four year span. TechNavio, a market intelligence reporting company, reviews and forecasts the period of 2010 through 2014 from

Wisconsin university offering free voter ID cards

With many states requiring voter ID cards, and if you’re a student, proof of enrollment, some colleges are offering students free cards that will enable them to vote.

Jakarta airport opens biometric immigration gate

In an effort to streamline passenger security, Jakarta, Indonesia’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport has opened the country’s first biometric immigration gate.

Fingerprint biometric identification provider BIO-key International, Inc. and Oakwell Engineering Limited partnered to create the new gate, designed for use by passengers with electronic passports. Passengers submit their e-passports and authenticate with a fingerprint.

Wisconsin colleges issuing voter IDs, ACLU sues state over voter law

While more Wisconsin colleges are issuing voter identification cards to students, the ACLU is suing the state over its recently-passed voter ID law that, the organization claims, makes it more difficult for some students and others to vote in the state’s elections.

Malaysia to forego biometrics for upcoming election

The Malaysian Election Commission has decided to forego the use of the biometric voter verification system for the country’s upcoming elections, according to an article form The Star.

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Swiss to vote on biometric IDs