Zurich and Geneva airports are looking to expand the use of facial recognition systems, leaked information given to the media has revealed. In future, passengers at both airports will interact with the technology regularly, from the entrance to the gate.

Zurich and Geneva airports plan facial recognition expansion

According to a report from Saldo, airports in Zurich and Geneva are planning to expand the use of facial recognition software. So far, the technology has only been used voluntarily during customs controls for those with biometric passports. 

In future, officials hope to use passengers’ facial recognition data throughout the airport experience. According to an official email from Zurich Airport, leaked to Saldo, they hope that each visitor will be given a “biometrically enriched profile” that will be used for both security and commercial purposes.

Though Zurich Airport denies the plans, Saldo added that the email contains comprehensive plans to roll out the technology to most areas. They also found that Geneva Airport has already purchased the devices needed to make the idea a reality, though these are yet to be switched on.

Swiss aviation reforms raise data protection concerns

The findings come as the Swiss government begins reforms to the Aviation Act, which are expected to make facial recognition software legal to use in most parts of the airport. Most controversially, the draft law would allow airports and airlines, both local and international, access to the data.

This raises concerns that travellers’ data could be spread worldwide by non-EU airlines which are subject to more relaxed data protection laws. For their part, the umbrella association of the Swiss aviation industry Aero Swiss and flag carrier SWISS recently wrote a statement asking the government to allow airlines and airports to process passenger biometric data without the passenger’s consent.

"The processing of biometric data is an infringement of personal rights," legal expert and president of the Grundrechte association Viktor Györffy told Blick. He called on the government to provide more legal protection to passengers through clear legal and consent rules.

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