On Monday, the city of Antwerp started taking fingerprints of everyone who applies for a new electronic identity card (e-ID). Antwerp is one of the first major cities in Flanders to join the European route in this area.
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Europe wants to make the electronic identity card a safer and more universal identity document that complies with all strict international rules, such as previously also the passports (travel passes). It therefore imposes the integration of fingerprints on its Member States. The new identity cards should facilitate identity checks.
“The fingerprint system to combat identity fraud is not new,” emphasizes Alderman for Loketten Nabilla Ait Daoud (N-VA). A fingerprint is also used with the travel pass. It is important to know that the fingerprint is only present on the card itself and is not stored centrally. ‘
Only authorized authorities can read the chip and see the fingerprints. The new identity card also has a different layout: it has a different color, the photo is on the left instead of the right and also on the back in a perforated form. The chip is also on the back of the card, which means that the card has to be inserted into the card reader in a different way.
Anyone requesting a new e-ID will have to have their fingerprints taken (for verification) both when applying and when collecting.
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