EC hones in on breeder documents, biometrics in action plan on document fraud

The European Commission has adopted an action plan setting out concrete measures to improve the security of travel documents, stating that it is needed to improve breeder document standards and information exchange amid current tensions.The 11-page "Action plan to strengthen the European response to travel document fraud" notes that the need for improved travel document security comes as the issue is increasingly under the spotlight in the context of the recent terrorist attacks in Europe and current migration flows."Document fraud has become an enabler of terrorism and organised crime, and is linked to the trafficking of human beings and migrant smuggling", wrote the EC in its action plan.The action plan states under a section on registration of identity that breeder documents are critical, noting that Countries with a biometric population register or travel document database can check a person's identity each time s/he applies for a new travel document."[B]reeder documents should have a minimum security level to prevent falsification. The EU has contributed a total of EUR 16 million to research and development initiatives to ensure more secure breeder documents. Future Horizon 2020 work programmes on Secure Societies 2018-2020 will support R&D on document security."The EC action plan adds that Electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions, can also help in the detection of false documents and enhance electronic document security by providing evidence of identity and preventing ID fraud through the mutual online validation of identity data.It cites name-changing as a specific threat, recommending that states: "consider how best to avoid issuing authentic documents based on false identities, for example through reinforcing procedures in cases of later-in-life registration of identity/first-time applications or name-changing".States should also examine how their breeder documents can be made more fraud-resistant, for example by adding security features.Meanwhile, the EC has committed to facilitating discussion on biometric identifiers (facial image and/or fingerprints) in population registers.A second key area the commission explores is minimum standards relating to the security of issuing processes.Here, the EC is targeting better exchange of best practices as regards both biometrics enrolment and document granting and issuing procedures."We know that decentralised issuance processes make it easier for fraudsters to steal and re-use blank documents. Centralising and monitoring/auditing issuing and personalisation processes (filling-in of blank documents) prevent the circulation of (in particular, blank) stolen documents."While the EC asks that states ensure full implementation of the 2006 Resolution on minimum standards as regards the security of issuing processes, the body pledges to facilitate the exchange of best practices on issuing procedures and identity management by organising workshops from the first quarter of 2017.Other key areas noted in the action plan includes security features in travel documents, and enrolment of biometrics.On the former, the EC states that security levels of national ID cards delivered by Member States and of residence documents for EU nationals residing in another Member State and their family members vary significantly, which increases the risk of falsification and document fraud.In terms of biometric enrolment, the action plan warns that vulnerabilities such as 'face-morphing' and 'fingerprint spoofing' should be addressed.Taken together, the ID vulnerabilities require that the European Parliament and the Council adopt as soon as possible the proposals on a "more secure uniform format" for visas and residence permits for third country nationals to avoid further fraud.This leads to plans by the EC to, in the first quarter of 2017, finalise the study on EU policy options to improve the security of EU citizens' ID cards and the residence documents of EU citizens residing in another Member State and of their non-EU family members in order to limit the risk of fraud and forgery.The EC also pledges to "develop further guidance/training for the correct enrolment of biometric identifiers, in particular to address biometric data quality and vulnerabilities from the third quarter of 2017".Finally, document control is mentioned as a key area needing action.The commission notes that an incoming amendment of the Schengen Borders Code would make it obligatory to verify all travel documents, regardless of the holder's nationality, against the Schengen Information System (SIS) and the stolen and lost travel document database.In terms of tools that can be used for document control, the EC states that the 'non-document-expert' community should also be able to rely on simple authentication mechanisms that do not require expert knowledge or specialised equipment."Non-experts and the general public have access to a subsystem of FADO which provides less detailed information. Means should be explored of giving them wider access to lost or stolen document alerts, databases on genuine documents and recent alert information on fraud trends."Biometrics are also of key importance in document control, notes the EC."The systematic electronic checking of the chip data would lead to the detection of the most common cases of document fraud ߪ. Unfortunately, not all Member States exchange their certificates."The body notes that the SIS's potential to tackle document fraud will grow with the implementation of a 'fingerprint search' functionality.The first elements of this system will be ready by mid-2017 and the work at central level will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017 – this functionality will enable the successful identification (via their fingerprints) of persons sought by the authorities.Then, an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) will perform identity checks and contribute significantly to the detection of document and identity fraud. Member States will be phasing it in from the start of 2018.

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