Australia says 'no' to biometrics for asylum seekers - News - Security

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Australia says 'no' to biometrics for asylum seekers

By Vivienne Fisher, ZDNet Australia
February 08, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/security/soa/Australia-says-no-to-biometrics-for-asylum-seekers/0,130061744,120263365,00.htm

Australia will not follow the UK's lead by issuing biometric cards for asylum seekers.

A spokesperson from the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs said it was not considering a proposal of that nature at this time.

In the UK, the Home Office is piloting a program of issuing asylum seekers with biometric cards, which contain their fingerprint and other personal details. Called the Application Registration Card (ARC), the cards contain a secure chip is allows for information to be updated.

Privacy of the data held on the microchip is protected by using a software key escrow, and individuals are also told of information which is placed on the ARC.

Home Office minister Lord Rooker said that the biometric cards were being used in the UK so asylum seekers could be rapidly identified at all stages of their application.

Wendy MacAuliffe from ZDNet UK contributed to this article.