Biometric data on terrorists needed to activate global tripwire says INTERPOL
L'assemble generale di Interpol preme per un database biometrico (impronte e DNA) <https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-media/News/2016/N2016-147> BALI, Indonesia – The lack of biometric data being shared on terrorists at the international level is creating a dangerous security gap for exploitation by returning foreign terrorist fighters. With at least 15,000 fighters still estimated to be within the conflict zones of which an unknown number could return home to engage in radicalization or covert cell operations, the INTERPOL General Assembly has emphasised the urgency with which this threat needs to be addressed. The proliferation of aliases, the complexity of fake travel documents, deception tactics falsely declaring individuals have died in the conflict zones, and even basic issues linked to transliteration present mounting challenges to law enforcement in the field. Information made available at the frontlines, via INTERPOL, should enable timely and effective action to properly identify suspects and equally as important, to exonerate innocent individuals and minimize disruption to legitimate travel flows. The role of biometric information focused on unique identifiers, such as fingerprints and DNA, is pivotal in this context. Although INTERPOL currently holds information on nearly 9,000 foreign terrorist fighter – including from within the conflict zone – less than 10 per cent of these files include biometric data or high resolution images which could be used for facial recognition. “Although information shared via INTERPOL has enabled national law enforcement agencies to prevent numerous terrorists and aspiring foreign terrorist fighters from travelling, the lack of biometric data remains a weak link,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock. [] Alberto
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Alberto Cammozzo