I spotted something buried deep in one of the thick (electronically speaking that is) EU developments and notifications emails that somehow seem to land in my in-box. I am very impressed by one thing, how the European bureaucrats are always on the lookout for things that the national authorities might be doing which might not be "European". This is one example. Every country has its own way of having biometric identification frameworks and usage. And in almost all cases, even inside a country, you will find different standards and usage.
For example, the United Kingdom has started off on inviting contractors to start work for the National ID project. Now are these guys going to work with the benefits agency? or the NHS card system? or the passport agency? don't think so, haven't seen it anyway. It is early days yet, but one would have thought that some standards work would have pushed through. Remember how EU got a leg up on 2G mobile networks by pushing for the GSM standard? and USA then ended up on the back foot because of no standards. Mind you, then EU tried to do the same for 3G and 2.5G and ended up in the most unholy mess imaginable. But aiming for standards of interoperability is good. So it seems for this story as well. The EU is launching a project to get standards for biometric identification interoperability.
But what I am finding very curious that there is no mention of any financial institution cooperation / collaboration. Money is what makes the world go around and if there is one thing which should be interoperable is the financial transaction framework. Its not like that the EU is not already working on this. For example, the EU is working on the SEPA, the Single European Payments Area, working on TARGET II, on having a common depository, imposing standards and and and (and, yes, up to and including specs on credit cards and and and). So when we are talking about two such huge operations going on, has anybody ever thought of linking these two up? or at least talking to each other? Havent heard of anything and my admittedly limited googling and emailing didnt produce any responses.
If Europe can come up with say a credit card or financial instrument biometric identification which is in synch with or interoperable with the national security identifier project, then it will single-handedly give a leg up to the next but one generation of technology, manufacturing and service firms. It can be done, but I wonder if anybody is listening?
All this to be taken with a grain of piquant salt!!!
EU project builds European infrastructure for testing biometrics technologies
[Date: 2007-08-13]
An EU-funded project has begun work on setting up a European infrastructure for the testing and certification of biometrics components and systems.
Biometric recognition systems measure the behavioural or physical traits of people. These can be as varied as iris images, fingerprints, the structure of veins in the hand, or even an individual's typing rhythm.
The systems are currently used by national governments for border controls, and the EU is looking to develop a coherent approach for Europe. The technology is used to detect illegal immigration, and to identity theft and security threats.
The BioTesting Europe project is seeking to establish European interoperability for large-scale cross-national identity management systems, such as passports, visas and ID cards.
The project will also help to establish European centres for the testing and certification of these biometric components and systems.
'In order to establish European interoperability within large identity management systems, more specific requirements for designing testing and evaluation schemes are needed,' explains Max Snijder, the project coordinator from the European Biometrics Forum. 'An integrated and European approach is the absolute success factor in achieving these goals. That means simultaneous actions are needed that facilitate alignment between all levels of stakeholders that are involved: end users, testing laboratories, accreditation organisations and industry.'
The project has begun outlining the need for testing and certification schemes, and will then make an inventory of existing capabilities, mapping user requirements and defining the business case.
Ultimately, the project will establish a European Biometric Testing and Certification Roadmap for further research and development.
BioTesting Europe is funded under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme under its 'preparatory action for security research' theme. It is being coordinated by the European Biometric Forum, and involves the UK's National Physical Laboratory, Germany's Fraunhofer-Institut für Graphische Verarberaitung (IGD), and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).
For more information, please visit:
http://www.biotestingeurope.eu/
Category: Projects
Data Source Provider: National Physics Laboratory (NPL) Document Reference: Based on a press release from the National Physics Laboratory (NPL) Programme or Service Acronym: SECURITY, FP7, FP7-COOPERATION, FP7-SECURITY, FUTURE RESEARCH Subject Index: Coordination, Cooperation; Scientific Research
RCN: 28202
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