Since 30 September 2004, all visitors to the United States are electronically face-scanned and fingerprinted at the US border. This 'biometric' information, together with a mass of associated personal data, can be shared throughout the US government. Personal files can also be shared internationally. These measures are part of an unprecedented traveller surveillance and profiling system that within fifteen years may encompass data on a billion people.

Privacy International has published an alarming report about the challenges US-VISIT poses to civil liberties, with a comprehensive flow-chart showing the detailed workings of the program.

Privacy International condemns the U.S.-VISIT Programme (28.09.2004)
http://www.privacyinternational.org/article.shtml?cmd%5B347%5D=x-347-7...