EU plan to fingerprint all children

The Observer reports this morning on an EU plan to fingerprint all children in member states.

"British children, possibly as young as six, will be subjected to compulsory fingerprinting under European Union rules being drawn up in secret. The prints will be stored on a database which could be shared with countries around the world.

The prospect has alarmed civil liberties groups who fear it represents a 'sea change' in the state's relationship with children and one that may lead to juveniles being erroneously accused of crimes. Under laws being drawn up behind closed doors by the European Commission's 'Article Six' committee, which is composed of representatives of the European Union's 25 member states, all children will have to attend a finger-printing centre to obtain an EU passport by June 2009 at the latest.

The use of fingerprints and other biometric data is designed to prevent passport fraud and allow European member states to meet US entry visa requirements"

Yet again the claim that fingerprints are required on passports to meet US requirements is trotted out without question. Yet again it will be believed. Yet again it is wrong. The US only require a digital photo on the passport at the moment. Besides, they fnigerprint all foreign visitors now themselves under the US VISIT programme.

They know not what they do and unsurprisingly those reporting on what they do are also somewhat confused.

Update: John Lettice, the Register's resident ID polemisist has a few choice things to say about the kiddiprinters.