Uproar as US plans to fingerprint all UK tourists
Britons visiting the US already have their credit card and email accounts inspected by American authorities following a deal struck between the European Union and the US Department of Homeland Security last autumn.
Shami Chakrabarti, director of the civil rights group Liberty said: "The UK has pioneered the flawed notion that the more intrusive and unwieldy the database of innocent people – the safer the country.
"As if it didn't have enough of its own problems, the US government now appears to be following suit."
The Foreign Office confirmed the fingerprinting scheme was being put in place.
A spokesman said: "This is really a matter for the US authorities. We cannot comment further until we have had the chance to discuss this with our US counterparts."
US Airport scanners currently take two finger prints from travellers.
The move to 10 prints is due to be introduced in the summer. The changes will make it possible for this information to be compatible with the FBI database.
Critics warn errors in inputting finger printing data could leave some travellers victims of false match.
Travellers are also expected to face increased delays and queueing as a result of the scheme.
The civil rights movement have accused the US and EU authorities of using terrorism as an excuse to introduce intrusive surveillance schemes.
British travellers visiting the US can have all their credit card payments inspected if they use a card to book a flight.
People who give an email address to an airline could find all their messages monitored.
A spokesman for Liberty said the US rules stripped travellers of basic data protection and privacy rights.
The Association of British Travel Agents claims the new rules will discourage people from visiting the US.
But the Department of Homeland Security insist the intrusive new rules will not deter travellers from visiting the US.
A spokeswoman said: "That was what people said when we introduced the two-digit system, but that has not happened."
08 January 2007
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