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The European announcement is one more step toward dystopia,
where citizens are little more than tax-cattle
to be tagged and tracked
as we move from pen to pen across the globe.
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The European announcement is one more step toward dystopia,
where citizens are little more than tax-cattle
to be tagged and tracked
as we move from pen to pen across the globe.
🌸
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US Travel To Europe Will Require Prior Approval,
Biometric Scanning
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Monday, Oct 23, 2023
US Travel To Europe Will Require Prior Approval,
Biometric Scanning
🌸
Monday, Oct 23, 2023
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https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/achtung-us-travel-europe-will-require-prior-approval-biometric-scanning
Traveling to most European countries is about to get more complicated and invasive for American citizens: In spring 2025, you'll have to first request permission.
And you'll be saying adieu to passport stamps and ciao to facial and fingerprint scans -- and having your biometric data stored in an enormous government database.
On Friday, an agency of the European Union announced the updated timing for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which has first set to roll out in 2024.
It applies to travelers from more than 60 countries that are currently exempt from visa requirements. Those countries have an aggregate population of 1.4 billion.
As is the case today, Americans won't need a visa, but they will need to apply in advance for permission to visit any of 30 EU countries for stays lasting up to 90 days. It will cost about $8 to apply, with requests submitted via the official ETIAS website or ETIAS mobile app. With activation of the process more than a year away, neither is yet configured to collect applications ETIAS assures the public that most applications will be processed in minutes.
These countries, which include some non-EU members, will require advance travel authorization The approval will be tied to your passport, and will be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes earlier.
Once you have it, you'll be able to visit as much as you want, so long as it's a "short-term stay," which generally means up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
ETIAS recommends applying for permission "well in advance" of your trip, but doesn't specify what that means. The agency does caution that the approval period "could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview."
There's no indication where such interviews would be conducted or by whom.
Europe's new rules may prompt some travelers to look elsewhere across the globe (Photo by Rachel Claire)
Participating countries will no longer give passport stamps that some travelers collect with pride.
In a move that's causing electronic-privacy advocates to sound alarms, you'll have to submit to both fingerprint and face scans, with the information then stored in the European Commission's Common Identity Repository (CIR), which is fed by multiple systems, including police agencies.
Even those who trust governments to only use the CIR for good should be wary of the risks of hacking by criminals or other governments, or the demonstrated tendency for rogue employees to give or sell the information to other parties.
Of course, none of us should trust governments with massive personal data repositories. Recall that the US Drug Enforcement Agency was caught using information from warrantless intelligence-gathering to unconstitutionally initiate investigations.
The European announcement is one more step toward dystopia, where citizens are little more than tax-cattle to be tagged and tracked as we move from pen to pen across the globe.
Naturally, our masters assure us we have nothing to fear...that it's all for our own safety, particularly in times of danger. As former German interior minister Thomas de Maziere said, "Privacy is nice, but in times of crisis...security comes first."
https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/Group%2033%20%282%29.png?itok=hrzQQqdZ
https://fortune.com/2019/05/01/eu-biometric-database-india/
Traveling to most European countries is about to get more complicated and invasive for American citizens: In spring 2025, you'll have to first request permission.
And you'll be saying adieu to passport stamps and ciao to facial and fingerprint scans -- and having your biometric data stored in an enormous government database.
On Friday, an agency of the European Union announced the updated timing for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which has first set to roll out in 2024.
It applies to travelers from more than 60 countries that are currently exempt from visa requirements. Those countries have an aggregate population of 1.4 billion.
As is the case today, Americans won't need a visa, but they will need to apply in advance for permission to visit any of 30 EU countries for stays lasting up to 90 days. It will cost about $8 to apply, with requests submitted via the official ETIAS website or ETIAS mobile app. With activation of the process more than a year away, neither is yet configured to collect applications ETIAS assures the public that most applications will be processed in minutes.
These countries, which include some non-EU members, will require advance travel authorization The approval will be tied to your passport, and will be valid for up to three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes earlier.
Once you have it, you'll be able to visit as much as you want, so long as it's a "short-term stay," which generally means up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
ETIAS recommends applying for permission "well in advance" of your trip, but doesn't specify what that means. The agency does caution that the approval period "could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview."
There's no indication where such interviews would be conducted or by whom.
Europe's new rules may prompt some travelers to look elsewhere across the globe (Photo by Rachel Claire)
Participating countries will no longer give passport stamps that some travelers collect with pride.
In a move that's causing electronic-privacy advocates to sound alarms, you'll have to submit to both fingerprint and face scans, with the information then stored in the European Commission's Common Identity Repository (CIR), which is fed by multiple systems, including police agencies.
Even those who trust governments to only use the CIR for good should be wary of the risks of hacking by criminals or other governments, or the demonstrated tendency for rogue employees to give or sell the information to other parties.
Of course, none of us should trust governments with massive personal data repositories. Recall that the US Drug Enforcement Agency was caught using information from warrantless intelligence-gathering to unconstitutionally initiate investigations.
The European announcement is one more step toward dystopia, where citizens are little more than tax-cattle to be tagged and tracked as we move from pen to pen across the globe.
Naturally, our masters assure us we have nothing to fear...that it's all for our own safety, particularly in times of danger. As former German interior minister Thomas de Maziere said, "Privacy is nice, but in times of crisis...security comes first."
https://cms.zerohedge.com/s3/files/inline-images/Group%2033%20%282%29.png?itok=hrzQQqdZ
https://fortune.com/2019/05/01/eu-biometric-database-india/
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Ivana Saric
U.S. passport holders heading to Europe will need to receive prior authorization to travel starting in spring 2025, European officials said Friday.
Why it matters:
The new date marks a delay in the rollout of the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which had previously been expected to go into effect in 2024.
State of play:
The new rules dictate that travelers from more than 60 visa-free countries — including the U.S.,
Canada, and the U.K. — will need to get an ETIAS authorization to enter Europe.
In addition, the European Council's Justice and Home Affairs Council confirmed Friday that another travel requirement for Europe-bound travelers, known as the Entry/Exit system, is set to roll out in Autumn 2024.
Details: Travelers will need to fill out an ETIAS application form prior to travel and pay a small €7 fee (about $8).
Go deeper: Europe-bound Americans will soon need a new authorization
https://www.axios.com/2023/10/20/europe-travel-requirements-2025-etias
U.S. passport holders heading to Europe will need to receive prior authorization to travel starting in spring 2025, European officials said Friday.
Why it matters:
The new date marks a delay in the rollout of the new European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which had previously been expected to go into effect in 2024.
State of play:
The new rules dictate that travelers from more than 60 visa-free countries — including the U.S.,
Canada, and the U.K. — will need to get an ETIAS authorization to enter Europe.
- A European Commission memo about the new travel rules defined ETIAS as a "largely automated IT system" and emphasized that an ETIAS travel authorization is "not a visa."
- The rollout of the new IT system has been in the works for years but has been delayed several times. The European Council says the new system will improve internal security, help prevent illegal immigration, and reduce public health risks and border delays.
In addition, the European Council's Justice and Home Affairs Council confirmed Friday that another travel requirement for Europe-bound travelers, known as the Entry/Exit system, is set to roll out in Autumn 2024.
- The Entry/Exit system has also been much-delayed. It will register travelers' information and biometric data, such as fingerprints and face scans, replacing the need to stamp passports.
Details: Travelers will need to fill out an ETIAS application form prior to travel and pay a small €7 fee (about $8).
- Some ETIAS applications might take up to two weeks if additional information is needed, or up to 30 days if the applicant is asked to do an interview, the EU has said.
- Authorizations, if received, will be linked to the traveler's passport and valid for up to three years, or until the passport expires.
Go deeper: Europe-bound Americans will soon need a new authorization
https://www.axios.com/2023/10/20/europe-travel-requirements-2025-etias
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