Biometrics are fast becoming a necessary technology in the world's war on terrorism.

 

Since the catastrophic events of 9/11, the use of biometrics for such things as secure identification has increased immensely.

Biometrics are popular for their ability to replace ID cards, passwords or pin numbers as well as offer a reliable way of verifying someone's identity through recognition of unique physical characteristics such as the face, iris, voice or fingerprint.

The solutions help to better identity fraud, illegal immigration as well as combat terrorism.

 

Biometric identity solutions provider, Cross Match Technologies Inc., whose portfolio of products include fingerprint, palm and full-hand livescan systems which capture prints into a digitized format for easier integration and transmission, has announced it was awarded SAFETY Act designation and certification by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

 

According to a news release, the livescan portfolio received both designation as a qualified anti-terrorism technology and certification as approved products for homeland security under the SAFETY Act.

 

The SAFETY Act is was enacted by Congress as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to support deployment and development of anti-terrorism technologies " while managing risk and liability associated with such applications," as well as to "ensure that the threat of liability does not deter potential manufacturers or sellers of anti-terrorism technologies from developing and commercializing technologies that could save lives."

 

Cross Match also announced recently a $4.4 million contract for 1,385 of its livescan Guardian fingerprint scanning systems in support of the United Kingdom's plans to collect biometric data for all visa applicants to increase the security of their borders.