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Heathrow will test biometric scanners

November 27, 2006

The (London) Telegraph: Airline passengers are expected to face routine fingerprinting, with the government already involved in talks with the aviation industry over the installation of scanners at airports. Discussions began before the thwarting of the alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights in August, and the first "proof of concept" trials of the technology should be unveiled at Heathrow within the next few weeks.

The scanners are seen as having a dual role. For departing passengers, they will be used by airlines to confirm that the person who checked in is the one who boarded the flight. For arrivals, the fingerprint scanners are among a number of options for tightening up border controls and preventing the use of forged travel documents.

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