by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:50 AM ET, Tue January 2, 2024
The United
Kingdom is working on a new “smart” passport system that would allow travelers
to cross the borders without showing a passport.
According to The Times, UK Border Force Director-General Phil
Douglas said the “frictionless facial recognition” technology could be trialed
as early as this year, upgrading the current eGates system to allow
travelers to look into a camera instead of presenting a physical passport.
The current eGates system already relies on facial
recognition, but the new technology would utilize a centralized data system
instead of depending on data encrypted on the passport. The updated gates would
require that travelers register on a database.
Similar technology has been successfully implemented at Dubai
International Airport.
Douglas revealed that an initial trial of the updated facial
recognition technology would likely be conducted at “a single airport for a
limited number of travelers,” with a procurement scheduled to follow the tests.
In total, upgrading the existing eGates would cost an
estimated “tens of millions.”
Last month, VisitEngland issued a new toolkit for travel
and tourism businesses in England to increase accessibility and inclusivity
as part of the kingdom’s tourism recovery plan, which aims to make it the most
accessible country in Europe by 2025.
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