EU plans electronic border technology

EU commissioner Franco Frattini has presented "food for thought" on the issue of equipping Europe to deal with illegal immigration by using sophisticated electronic technology. One proposal is to record all those entering or leaving a country in a central data bank from 2015 onwards. In addition, travellers from non-EU countries would have to submit a finger print when applying for a visa. Thorsten Knuf thinks this is going too far: "Frattini seems to believe that technical means can be used to achieve total control over the borders. He even wants to use satellites, unmanned aircraft and secret service agents to track down African boat people and stop them entering the EU. His motto seems to be: we want to know everything -- using all means at our disposal. People are increasingly getting the feeling they are at the mercy of the state. More surveillance means less freedom, so there must be good reasons for it in every individual case. Following the USA, Europe is now becoming obsessed with collecting data."

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