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Smart cards for immigration?

01 March 1992

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The Home Office is "watching with interest" a Dutch experiment in which frequent international travellers are given an electronic "immigration card" which they pass through a machine instead of having passports manually checked at immigration control. The card carries the holder's fingerprints and other personal data.

The scheme brings nearer the prospect of universal monitoring of passengers' movements throughout Europe under the guise of improvements in speed and travellers' convenience. The Home Affairs Select Committee, in its 8th Report, has made clear its preference for a "smart card" over the British Visitor's Passport which it claims is too easily forged.

Evening Standard 18.2.92; Home Affairs Committee 8th Report 1990/91 on the Home Office Annual Report 21.10.91

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