Asta Radvilaite, research coordinator of HRMI, has published an article that analyzes the efficiency, reliability and legality of biometric passports, and suggests a broader public discussion on this topic.
A number of European states discuss the issue of biometric data to be introduced in passports. In Germany, experts publicly expressed doubts regarding the program of the biometric passport introduction, while Data Protection Commissioner demanded to stop the program. United Kingdom Information Commissioner warned that Communist Eastern Europe is the best example what happens when the government has too much information about its citizens. Ireland after evaluation of the technological problems and threats to privacy stopped the process of the implementation of biometric passports.
In Lithuania, the question of the legality and necessity of biometric passports is out of public attention. Society is not informed properly about the reliability and efficiency of biometric passports, and, most importantly, about their impact on the right to private life. National Data Protection Inspectorate has not expressed any position on this question. The information disseminated in the media is one-sided and creates the impression that biometric data in passports is a progressive technology that increases individual safety.
Human Rights Monitoring Institute attempts to fill this information gap and reveal the main problems concerning the introduction of biometric passports.
Full article in Lithuanian can be found on the internet portal Delfi or here.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute