Frankfurt Airport Introduces Iris Scan Technology

February 18, 2004

Frankfurt Airport Introduces Iris Scan Technology
February 18, 2004 – Citizens of European Union countries or Switzerland who sign up for a test project can bypass conventional passport checks at Frankfurt airport, and instead enter Germany after a three-second scan of their eyes.

According to the Associated Press, the Frankfurt airport has introduced a six-month program using iris recognition technology. Passengers who qualify for the program will still go through regular security controls, but would put their passport through a scanner and take a quick look at a camera.

The use of similar biometric technology – using fingerprint, eye or facial recognition scans – has been considered in many countries, especially the United States, since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

To qualify, passengers would need background checks by German border police, a machine-readable passport, be citizens of the European Union or Switzerland, register at the airport and have an iris scan on file.

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