Passports no longer needed at gates

Facial recognition technology could allow British passengers to skip showing their passports at e-gates when returning to the UK, though they must still carry them to check in and board.

Rollout starts at two airports

Contactless borders are expected to be introduced at Birmingham and East Midlands airports in the coming weeks, then extended to all e-gates at thirteen other airports by early next year.

Border Force chief promises speed gains

Phil Douglas, director general of Border Force, told The Times the move could speed up border control by twenty five percent. He said it would be quicker, more modern and more secure.

“It will mean we have a more secure border and a much faster transit through the airport. It's quicker, it's more modern, it's more secure.”

How the system works

Airlines transmit a gallery of passport photos of arriving British passengers to Border Control. The e-gate recognises faces. Those not matched are asked to scan their passport or see a Border Force officer.

Privacy activists warn of discrimination

Big Brother Watch reported eighty percent of people misidentified by facial recognition in London in twenty twenty five were Black. The biometrics commissioner warned in May the technology was not fool proof.

Concerns about legal protections

Privacy activists warn the technology is error-ridden and risks the UK becoming a surveillance state as there are no laws in place to protect citizen privacy. Misidentified people could sue for breaching their rights.