Amid the EU’s phased development of three new border control IT systems, The EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency 2023 report has suggested that all IT systems should be subject to an independent review.
The EU Commission held a meeting in February addressing the importance of ensuring control of the EU’s external sea and land border points to manage migration.
The EU’s first ever 5-year policy deal was based on a cooperative approach to sharing a vision on border management strategy. The deployment of secure IT systems, supporting the collection and storage of biometric data, is broadly being actioned across the aviation and travel industry however there should never be a complacency around ensuring data protection.
The report stressed that data protection requirements should be translated from “paper” to implementation stages. The management and interoperability of EU information systems, (Schengen Information System, Entry-Exit System, Visa Information System and European Travel Information and Authorisation System) should also be continuously monitored.
New systems will have to cooperate with existing architecture, such as the impending ETIAS and entry-exit system which EU law covers in setting non-negotiable standards for data protection and maintaining fundamental rights.
Processing capabilities will be significantly advanced when the ETIAS comes into effect but the risk of bias must be mitigated.
The FRA’s reports reflects on a tumultuous year for Ukraine since Russia’s cruel invasion in 2022 and how the personal data of mass migrated people should be collected and used appropriately.
The Fundamental Rights Guidance Board will have a significant say on the ETIAS and play a key role in mitigating the risk of bias.
