Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

UK IDs will not be mandatory

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

UK Home Office Secretary Alan Johnson announced that the identity scheme put in place would be voluntary for citizens. The only individuals forced to apply for the cards would be foreign national living in the UK, 50,000 of these cards have already been issued.

The IDs also will no longer be mandatory for airport workers. Under the new proposals, ID cards will be voluntary for workers at Manchester and London City airports. Workers will continue to be encouraged to get an ID card, which they can do for free, as it makes it easier for employers to carry out background checks and issue passes. [end] 

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.

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Suprema announced that its RealScan-G10 and RealScan-10 line of fingerprint scanners have received final certification from the Government of India’s Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) to be part of the country’s Unique ID (UID) project.

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The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) announced that the registration of Emirati newborns is now mandatory for electronic passports (e-passport) and ID cards, according to ArabianBusiness.com.

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The Emirates Identity Authority announced the test launch of the registration e-form on its web site for the national ID card. Applicants will be able to avoid lines at registration centers by using the online service to fill ID forms, pay fees and get an appointment for biometric screening, according to TechZone360.com

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British Columbia is moving forward with plans to upgrade its CareCard program. According to The Vancouver Sun, the new card will provide access to a variety of regional services including electronic health records, driver license and school registration for children.

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As part of the U.S. Department of State’s initiative to simplify and streamline customer service interactions and processes, the Office of Passport Services has started a 90-day pilot program for online passport card applications.

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