ThirdFactor | U.S. and Germany partner for secure traveling program

Friday, April 16, 2010

Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute and German Interior Ministry State Secretary Klaus-Dieter Fritsche announced the signing of a document that states each country’s intent to integrate biometric trusted traveler programs from each country to ease travel between the two countries.

The eventual integration is expected to utilize both the United States’ Global Entry program and Germany’s Automated and Biometrics-Supported Border Controls program.

Both programs are designed to allow approved travelers access to special security lines that authenticate the user to their passport biometrically leading to a large reduction in wait time in line.

By combining the two programs, German citizens traveling in the U.S. and U.S. citizens traveling in Germany will be allowed to use the others biometric trusted traveler program. Both countries are expecting the new partnership to help improve efficiency as well as security in their respective airports.

After long delays, Algeria launches biometric passports

After a nearly three-year delay, the Algerian government has finally launched its biometric passport program.

Magharebia reports that the biometric passports, which contain a contactless smart card chip that holds a digitized photo, fingerprints and signature, were supposed to be released in 2009. But the documents were delayed due to complexities with the operation of the project and the need to thoroughly research and analyze other countries’ experiences with biometric passports.

New player enters Indian two-factor authentication market

The Indian start-up ArrayShield Technologies has entered the two-factor authentication market in India and is looking for value-added resellers, managed service providers and system integrators to help it become a player in this field, which it estimates to be nearly Rs 2 billion.

State Department pilots online passport card applications

As part of the U.S. Department of State’s initiative to simplify and streamline customer service interactions and processes, the Office of Passport Services has started a 90-day pilot program for online passport card applications.

Homeland Security's Global Entry expanding

Biometrics enable expedited border screening

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Global Entry program is expanding enabling enrolled U.S. citizens to enjoy expedited screening when returning from travel abroad to a number of domestic airports. The program also makes them eligible to participate in similar programs at foreign airports.

Concerns mount over new Canadian biometric programs

Privacy advocates in Canada have been raising concerns over the risk involved in two new biometric programs from the government that result in the sharing of private biometric data with other countries’ governments and possibly private corporations, according to an Embassy Magazine article.

Identive provides more smart card readers for Spanish electronic ID program

Identive Group has shipped an additional 122,000 smart card readers to support Spain’s national electronic ID card program which the government launched in 2009. More than half of Spain’s 46 million citizens now carry the ID cards.

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U.S. and Germany partner for secure traveling program