A digital compliance specialist has warned that the success of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) will depend on the strength of privacy safeguards and transparency around how biometric data is stored and used.
The EES, which comes into effect this week, requires most non-EU travellers to register fingerprints and facial scans at border crossings. The system is designed to replace manual passport stamps and improve the monitoring of movements in and out of the Schengen area, which covers 25 EU member states along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The EU says the technology will make crossings faster and enhance security. But Stuart Morris, chief technology officer at SmartSearch, warned that public confidence in digital identity systems will depend on how well privacy, consent and accountability are built in from the start.
“Consumers have been signing Terms & Conditions for apps on their smartphones for years, often unwittingly giving away certain rights to their data and likeness,” he said.
“However, as seen in the public response to the Online Safety Act, more questions are now being asked by the public when it comes to safeguarding their data and ensuring digital privacy. The UK government’s new EES digital ID scheme will be no different.”
FRAUD & FINANCIAL CRIME
Morris said that while digital identity could help to combat fraud and financial crime, the system must give people genuine control over their information. “Establishing robust and trusted identity online has arguably never been more important to combat rising levels of identity fraud, theft and financial crime – as well as improving border security,” he said.
“But the government will need to consider how to put as much control of their digital ID data into the hands of the individual to create a foundation of trust.”
He added that collaboration between regulators and private firms would be essential in ensuring such schemes earn widespread acceptance. “Existing schemes like the Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework will help to certify and recognise businesses and solutions that can be trusted to provide digital ID verification, all while respecting individuals’ privacy and data ownership when it comes to how that information is used, accessed and stored for the future.”
MORTGAGE POTENTIAL
Morris also argued that a trusted digital identity framework could streamline everyday processes such as applying for a mortgage or opening a business account. “For example, with a digital identity framework, a first-time buyer could confirm their ID instantly with their lender, avoiding the delays of document uploads and manual checks. Or a small business owner could use the same verified ID to open a bank account or sign supplier contracts online, saving time and reducing risk,” he said.
But he cautioned that the benefits of digital ID depend entirely on how transparent the system is. “These benefits will only be realised if schemes like the EES are built on transparency, privacy and personal choice,” Morris said.
“Without strong legal and technical safeguards, there is a risk of government overreach — where an ID system designed for convenience gradually expands into wider areas such as travel, taxation, healthcare, banking or even access to benefits and political participation. The system must protect citizens from surveillance and coercion, not enable it.”
