Identity fraud: UAE explores DNA signature option

The UAE is exploring the possibility of using highly accurate DNA “signature” -- in addition to iris scans and fingerprints -- to combat identity fraud, a senior official said.
Brig. Obaid Muhair Bin Suroor, Deputy Director of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), said the existing biometric identification system has helped them immensely in stamping out fraud, but these do not stop them from looking at better systems.

“The most advanced electronic identification system we are looking into includes DNA identification. There’s nothing more accurate than a DNA fingerprint. It reveals the real identity of a person even after he/she tried to change his documents or external body features.”

In future, he said, the combination of biochemistry and electronics would allow them to get a person’s DNA print instantly at the immigration counter while the person is showing his personal documents and nab wanted criminals or undesirable people trying to enter UAE.

The Emirates is one of the leading countries using iris scan and fingerprint technology at its major ports.

“We are doing our best to use the most up-to-date identification technology to eliminate threat to society and state security.”

The announcement came during a press conference announcing the three-day Electronic Identity Documents Forum which DNRD which kicks off on January 13.

The forum is organized by the Asia Pacific Smart Card Association, a non-profit industry association for smart cards, e-passports and related technologies in Asia Pacific.


IRIS SCANS


During the conference, Brig. Bin Suroor announced that more than 50,000 people were caught trying to enter Dubai with fake documents last year through the iris scan technology.

“Iris scanning has been great in helping us fight identity fraud. Through it, and with the help of our immigration laboratory, we also found 1,088 fake passports last year.”

People found with double identities are deported immediately and are reported to the country that issued the document, he said.

Asians and Africans form the majority of people caught with fake identification – though some fake European passports were found, too.

The UAE is also thinking of making e-passports mandatory, a rule already adopted by the US and some European countries.

Brig. Bin Suroor said: “One of the Ministry of Interior’s strategies is to make e-passports applicable in the UAE.”

The passport would be the same design but will have an embedded e-chip that bears the holder’s data and could be read by a scanner at immigration counters.

“There is a committee working on the mechanisms to replace the current passport with and electronic ones,” he added.

“No country can ensure its sovereignty unless it applies a strong system to verify the identity of international visitors, especially when we’re facing threats from illegal immigration, counterfeit identity documents and terrorism.”

“At the same time, the identity verification industry has advanced by leaps and bounds with technologies such as biometrics, eye and face recognition, and smart cards used in biometric documents.”

Despite this sophisticated technology, there will always be people attempting to cheat the system, he said.

“We need to continue our search for increasingly fool-proof identity verification systems in order to stay ahead of the game.”

Greg Pote, Chairman of Asia Pacific Smart Card Association, said the event is “a unique opportunity for government agencies responsible for passports, national ID cards and border control to discuss the status of their national projects and exchange views relating to technical and business issues for those national projects.”

Over 120 government officers from 35 countries, including the Gulf region, are descending upon Dubai to participate in the 7th Government Forum on Electronic Identity Documents.