U.K. to issue biometric passports worldwide

Steve Ranger | July 25, 2005 6:58 PM PDT

Summary

The British government will equip its embassies and consulates with gear to issue biometric passports.

Topics

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office is spending 5 million pounds (about $8.7 million) to equip its embassies and consulates around the world with the technology to issue biometric passports. Biometric technology aims to prevent multiple passports from being issued to the same person under different identities.

One in 10 British passports is issued overseas, and the new Web-based Identity Document Issuance System aims to make sure these passports are as secure as those issued at home by the U.K. Passport Office, which is in the midst of a move to biometric passports. Technology company 3M will install new passport issuance systems that can identify biometric information at 104 embassies, consulates and high commissions.

Steve Ranger of Silicon.com reported from London. For the full story, click here.

Talkback - Tell Us What You Think

Formatting +
BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums
  • [b] Bold [/b]
  • [i] Italic [/i]
  • [u] Underline [/u]
  • [s] Strikethrough [/s]
  • [q] "Quote" [/q]
  • [ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
  • [ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
  • [pre] Preformat [/pre]
  • [quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Facebook Activity