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UK Airports to Scan Faces

Technology will match passengers' mugs to biometric passports

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 25, 2008 12:18 PM CDT

(Newser) – New facial recognition technology in which computers scan faces and match them to information encoded in biometric passports will be used at UK airports for the first time this summer, the Guardian reports. Authorities say the machines will outperform humans and improve security, but critics fear the technology will cause flight disruptions by generating too many false negatives.

"It's a laughable technology," said one skeptic at the London School of Economics. US police had to turn the scanners off when they were used at the Super Bowl "because it was throwing up so many false positives," he said. "The computer couldn't even recognize gender." The summer test will be expanded to all UK airports if it works.

Heavily armed police guard Heathrow airport. Starting this summer, UK airports will introduce facial recognition technology. (Getty Images)

British airports will start using face scans this summer at airports this summer in a bid to improve security. (Shutter Stock)

Heavily armed police guard Heathrow airport. Starting this summer, UK airports will introduce facial recognition technology. (Getty Images)

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UK Airports to Scan Faces

Technology will match passengers' mugs to biometric passports

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terrorism • airport security • border security • facial recognition technology • false negatives • iris recognition • UK Border Agency • advance passenger information • Project Semaphore • Home Office • airport scanners

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More Newser Stories

Go Ahead, Profile Me, Says American Muslim

It's time to stop being politically correct about this, she writes

'Metal' Underwear Blocks Airport Scanners

Protect your privacy with powdered-metal 'fig leaves'

So How Many Terrorists Has the TSA Actually Caught?

None—that it's publicized, at least

Coulter: TSA Scans 'Hitler's Last Revenge'

She recommends profiling instead

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Before 9/11, we handled this better

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UK Airports to Scan Faces

Technology will match passengers' mugs to biometric passports

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

terrorism • airport security • border security • facial recognition technology • false negatives • iris recognition • UK Border Agency • advance passenger information • Project Semaphore • Home Office • airport scanners

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Go Ahead, Profile Me, Says American Muslim

It's time to stop being politically correct about this, she writes

'Metal' Underwear Blocks Airport Scanners

Protect your privacy with powdered-metal 'fig leaves'

So How Many Terrorists Has the TSA Actually Caught?

None—that it's publicized, at least

Coulter: TSA Scans 'Hitler's Last Revenge'

She recommends profiling instead

We Didn't Always Flip Out Over Terrorism

Before 9/11, we handled this better

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?