Fergie's Tech Blog

Analysis: Airlines Will Take Fingerprints

Shaun Waterman writes for UPI:

U.S. airlines are "apoplectic" about Department of Homeland Security plans to make them collect fingerprints to verify the identity of departing international visitors, according to a senior lawmaker.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the ranking member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, said he had spoken with representatives of the airlines about the proposal, and "They are apoplectic."

Mica told United Press International he himself had "significant concerns" about the plans for the so-called exit component of U.S.-VISIT, the Homeland Security system that biometrically verifies the identity of many foreign visitors to the United States.

Airline-industry representatives declined to comment to UPI, saying they did not have enough information about the plan.

posted by Fergie @ 5/08/2007 09:37:00 PM