Fingerprints on passports

RIGA- In order to reduce the risks of counterfeiting andidentity thefts, the Latvian migration authority is set to begin issuingpassports with micro-chips that include digital pictures of the holder'sfingerprints starting from September 15, 2008.

Latvijas Avize daily reports that initially the inclusion of these data inpassports had been planned from July 1, but that it was delayed as the producerof micro-chips did not receive the license in time.
Latvia will be the secondcountry after Germanyto start issuing passports with fingerprints. Under the EU law all memberstates are required to start issuing passports with biometric data by thesummer of 2009.

Last November, the Latvian Citizenship and Migration Affairs Board startedissuing passports of the new standard that include a scanned picture of theholder. As of September 15, a digital picture of fingerprints will be added tothis biometric data.

Although fingerprints are considered sensitive biometric information, they areavailable on any surface the person has touched. For that reason fingerprintsare unprotected and can be made public very easily. At the same time allinformation on the micro-chip, including the picture of fingerprints, is strictlyprotected.