Foreigner's fingerprints to be collected upon entry to China

[Tom99]

The US only recently made it mandatory, it started on Monday. They have a list of 27 exempt countries, mine isn't one of them, so the US is another country I won't be entering.

It doesn't matter if you visit US or not, as part of the 5Eyes, US already have all your biometrics anyway.

There are already 70+ countries that uses biometrics and there will be more soon. Fingerprinting is just another layer of safety and security for visitors. As there have many people entered China with fake, false and/or stolen passports, with this new layer of security, it will mitigate some of these problems.

 

[terranMarine]

@patero
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_under_Five_Eyes_surveillance

Now i wouldn't be so sure about your "biometric" data being kept safe inside New Zealand.

 

[VCheng]

I wish they did urine testing as well during the looooooong layovers and send me the report when I am home. Then I will surely affirm the fact that murica is great.

Cant i wear a contact lens to beat the iris scan? what about ppl who have lens implanted in eyes due to cataract.

No. Contact lenses can be detected, given that they are superficial and the iris is in the anterior chamber of the eye.

Will I have similar legal protection against the misuse of information about me in other countries?

It depends on which countries.

 

[patero]

It doesn't matter if you visit US or not, as part of the 5Eyes, US already have all your biometrics anyway.

There are already 70+ countries that uses biometrics and there will be more soon. Fingerprinting is just another layer of safety and security for visitors. As there have many people entered China with fake, false and/or stolen passports, with this new layer of security, it will mitigate some of these problems.

I've never been fingerprinted or had a retinal scan, that simply isn't possible. I guard and protect my personal information carefully, they would have very little information about me. It is also illegal in New Zealand for our Government to share any information about New Zealand citizens with foreign governments without our knowledge.

I doubt the 70+ number of countries you quote that use biometrics, you're just rationalizing the use of it. Proof please.

Will it make countries safer? Marginally so, but does it justify the cost to the individual? I can only speak for citizens of my own country, and the answer would almost certainly be no.

@patero
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_under_Five_Eyes_surveillance

Now i wouldn't be so sure about your "biometric" data being kept safe inside New Zealand.

I have no bio-metric data to keep safe. But your point in general is very valid I concede, we are all under the watch of various foreign governments and non-government agencies. It's why I keep my personal information under tight control in the first place.

 

[terranMarine]

I have no bio-metric data to keep safe. But your point in general is very valid I concede, we are all under the watch of various foreign governments and non-government agencies. It's why I keep my personal information under tight control in the first place.

That's the point, foreign agencies don't require biometric data. Your country can easily pass your personal data to USA, UK, Canada or other countries without your knowledge. Of course you can prevent countries collecting your fingerprints by having them on your ban list but it will only go that far. People like Charlie Chaplin, Princess Diana were even under surveilance in those pre biometric era. 5 eyes already jeopardized your secrecy/privacy

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

It wasn't mandatory for all foreigners though until this week, I've no idea why you were fingerprinted but on my previous trips there I wasn't.

Some countries may have been exempt. For instance if you were a Canadian citizen you didn't need to get fingerprinted.

 

[Tom99]

I've never been fingerprinted or had a retinal scan, that simply isn't possible.

Did you have to take a photo when you get your driving license or passport? If yes, then those info have been hashtagged and stored in database somewhere, shared by the 5Eyes. They can track you through security cameras now.

I doubt the 70+ number of countries you quote that use biometrics, you're just rationalizing the use of it. Proof please.

Canadian Link:http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biometric-data-collection-evolves-and-expands-in-canada-1.3100872
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/biometric-data-collection-evolves-and-expands-in-canada-1.3100872

Ottawa wants to collect data from visitors of 150 countries, up from the current 30
...
Canada is actually "catching up" to 70 other countries, such as the United States and Australia. He said the data will be stored for 15 years.

Will it make countries safer? Marginally so, but does it justify the cost to the individual? I can only speak for citizens of my own country, and the answer would almost certainly be no.

It is a first step that will make countries safer. There will be no direct cost to individual visitors as individual countries will pay for their own implementations. And more importantly, it will make passport holder safer because it make much harder for people to use fake or stolen passports.

 

[patero]

You're arguing completely different points, mandatory fingerprinting is something new. Until this week I could enter almost any country with a choice not to be fingerprinted, that choice is now being removed by a small number of countries which I will not enter.

 

[Tom99]

Here is a list of countries that requires biometrics for visitors/arrivals that have been compiles by poster, Brave New World, on flyertalk.com

In 2015:

Since then, more countries, including Singapore and China, have required fingerprintings.

In the future, the number of countries in the list will continue to grow.

 

[Götterdämmerung]

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Benjamin Franklin

 

[patero]

Here is a list of countries that requires biometrics for visitors/arrivals that have been compiles by poster, Brave New World, on flyertalk.com

In 2015:

Since then, more countries, including Singapore and China, have required fingerprintings.

In the future, the number of countries in the list will continue to grow.

That list is factually inaccurate, the USA for a start did not require mandatory fingerprinting until this week (not 2015), the list is confusing mandatory for foreigners with something else. I'm not even going to check the other countries, you're distorting facts. I'm done with this discussion.

 

[Tom99]

That list is factually inaccurate, the USA for a start did not require mandatory fingerprinting until this week (not 2015), the list is confusing mandatory for foreigners with something else. I'm not even going to check the other countries, you're distorting facts. I'm done with this discussion.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Biometric_Identity_Management:

The U.S. government states that the purpose of US-VISIT is to advance the security of both the United States and worldwide travel, through the use and sharing of biometric information for identity management. U.S. Department of State consular officers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers collect biometric information (digital fingerprints and a photograph) from all non-U.S. citizens between the ages of 14 and 79, with some exceptions, when they apply for visas or arrive at major U.S. ports of entry.[4]

CBP officials have the ability to instantly check the person seeking entry against several "lookout" databases using the Interagency Border Inspection System. In 2009, DHS announced that it had completed an upgrade from two-fingerprint to ten-fingerprint scanners at major U.S. ports of entry. The upgrade, which began in 2007, is intended to make the entry process faster and more accurate.[5]

Initially, only visitors who required a visa inserted in their passport were included in the US-VISIT program. However, since September 30, 2004, visitors eligible for the Visa Waiver Program have also been required to use the US-VISIT program.

Beginning January 18, 2009, most non-U.S. citizens (including lawful permanent residents) are subject to US-VISIT requirements.

The data chart is from
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/pra...take-fingerprints-other-biometric-data-2.html
I didn't make it myself and I have no desire to distort anything. We are all trying to talk about facts here and that's the facts I found.

In any case, I am ok with countries using or not using biometrics for their land/sea/air-ports. Though, I do think these biometrics will increase the safety for valid passport holders and security of those countries. It will greatly prevents thief, criminals and terrorists of using fake, invalid or stolen passports from enter other countries.

The trend of using biometrics for visitors is indisputable; More and more countries will use them in the future.

 

[monitor]

Foreigner's fingerprints to be collected upon entry to China
2017-02-09 14:03:07 Xinhua Web Editor: Zhang Xu

View attachment 375786

China will fingerprint foreigners when they enter the country, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement Thursday. [Photo: zjol.com.cn]

China will fingerprint foreigners when they enter the country, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement Thursday.

In 2017, exit-entry departments across the country will begin to collect the fingerprints of foreign nationals aged between 14 and 70. Those holding diplomatic passports or under reciprocal conditions are exempted.

The new system will first be tested at Shenzhen Airport from Feb. 10, said the ministry.

Collection of biometric data including fingerprints is an important border control measure that has been adopted by several countries in the world, the ministry said, adding China's exit-entry departments will strive to improve the efficiency of entry clearance.

.

Recently I have to give finger print While entering Malaysia in KL airport and in Dhaka airport too. Nothing unusual.

 

[TaiShang]

As far as I know, Taiwan does fingerprinting and profile picture for many years at both entry and exit.

Mainland finally catches up with the times. Welcome move. Mainland should also introduce picture taking at both entry and exit.

 

[xunzi]

People who boasted and fought privacy is lame. Once we enter the internet age, there is no such thing as privacy. When you log into any browser, especially Google, your information are automatically recorded and track. When you use a cellphone, you are being monitored through GPS. When you make a purchase online, your information is stored. In fact, when you sign up at PKD, information is stored too. At no point were you truly free of privacy.

You have to pick your fight, smartly. It is a losing battle for privacy camp as we move toward the digital information age. Now speaking of information, I'm completely fine with it as long as there are legitimated reasons, which in this case, there are due to increase threat from terrorism and identity theft.