Iris scans and passenger databases to protect UK borders

Project Semaphore

In November 2004 a contract was awarded to IBM for the delivery of Project Semaphore, a working prototype system that would test the core concepts of e-Borders.

The £15m pilot scheme tests the capture of advance passenger information on a limited number of air routes. It will run until late 2007, when it will be replaced by the full e-Borders system implementation.

Semaphore captures in and outbound passenger information on 10 routes to the UK, covering 10 million passengers. The data will be matched against 'watch lists' held by the Immigration Service, Police and Customs and Excise.

The Passenger Name Records will be scored against risk profiles, and provide alerts to government agencies.