Automated Border Control: Facilitation vs Security?

Increased adoption of e-Passports and biometric-based security solutions

have led to a sharp rise in the number of e-Gates that have been deployed at border entry points around the world.

While the implementation of e-Gates allows for the expedited processing of passengers and a more tactical deployment of border control agents, questions have inevitably been raised surrounding the related security issues.

In the UK, for instance, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) recently launched an investigation into an incident, which saw a passenger pass through the facial recognition e-Gates at Manchester Airport having inadvertently swapped passports with their travelling companion. Despite this lapse, however, the UKBA explained that “there was no breach of the Border and that the technology performed correctly”, and the passengers were stopped by a supervising immigration officer.

A total of 55 facial recognition e-Gates are currently being tested at 13 terminals throughout the UK, while they will soon be deployed in Heathrow Terminal 3 and Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal.

“The systems are in a trial stage and have been evaluated,” said Brodie Clark, Head of Border Force for the UK Border Agency. “Although the evaluation is still going through the approval stage, indications are that the technology works in a border control context alongside the conventional manual control.”

While the e-Gates are “proven to be as effective at facial matching as a human is”, Clark explained that they should not be viewed as “infallible”.

He said: “They are one of a number of systems that we can use to support frontline operations. It should be noted that no system of checking, including using trained officers, can be 100% foolproof, and so the gates are always supervised by a Border Officer when they are in operation. This combination of technology and experienced officer produces a fast and secure alternative to the conventional manual control.”