Britons to be scanned for FBI database (The Observer)

[Eugene]

Britons to be scanned for FBI database


· Anger over airport fingerprint plan
· Terror tests to start this summer

Paul Harris in New York, Jamie Doward and Paul Gallagher
Sunday January 7, 2007
The Observer

Millions of Britons who visit the United States are to have their fingerprints
stored on the FBI database alongside those of criminals, in a move that
has outraged civil rights groups.

The Observer has established that under new plans to combat terrorism,
the US government will demand that visitors have all 10 fingers scanned
when they enter the country. The information will be shared with intelligence
agencies, including the FBI, with no restrictions on their international use.

US airport scanners now take only two fingerprints from travellers. The move
to 10 allows the information to be compatible with the FBI database.

-snip-

In America, the 10-digit fingerprint plan has sparked concern among civil
rights groups, which accuse the government of using the excuse of terrorism
to expand its ability to monitor individuals. The scheme uses an electronic
scanner. Fingerprint information is then fed into a Department of Homeland
Security database that stores material from domestic security organisations
such as the FBI, as well as international bodies like Interpol. It already
holds 71 million fingerprints and is growing.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1984649,00.html

After the pilot phase, visitors from several other nations will be
subject to 10-finger scans.

[williesgirl]

1. Heil Bush - this shit has to stop. recommended