Eurostar to test facial-recognition system on European travellers

Eurostar, the operator of passenger rail services, has begun testing a facial-recognition system for passengers travelling from London’s St Pancras International station to continental Europe.

iProov and @Eurostar have today launched a trial of contactless fast-track service, SmartCheck. Passengers choosing to use SmartCheck will be able to complete secure ticket verification and UK exit check on their mobile devices prior to travel. Read more: pic.twitter.com/28FuBTBDJl

— iProov (@iProov) December 6, 2021

Passengers will be able to complete preliminary ticket checks and passport control using the SmartCheck biometric system. Those who opt for this option will be allowed to board the train, bypassing standard identity checks.

The system comprises two facial-scanning stages: one at the entrance to the ticket office to verify the ticket, and a second at the United Kingdom’s border control checkpoint to confirm passport details.

According to Eurostar, the aim of the project is to remove queues and speed up the boarding process, not only by improving customer satisfaction but also by minimising the risk of transmitting the SARS-CoV-2.

The system will be tested on a limited number of invited passengers. It will not include entry checks into the United Kingdom or the Schengen Area.

Eurostar announced plans to deploy a biometric passenger-identification system to replace physical tickets and passport checks in 2020. The project partner was iProov, a company that develops relevant technologies.

In December, the United Kingdom fined Clearview AI $22.6 million for illegally collecting citizens’ photographs.

In late October, Scottish schools refused to use the facial-recognition system under pressure from authorities.

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