Summary

In the case of biometric identification, unique biological characteristics of individuals, or their behavioural aspects, are used to determine the identity of the individuals. The best-known of such characteristics are hand and fingerprints, but biometrics actually covers all the unique features of a person (facial shape, structure of blood vessels, shape of ears, manner of walking, etc). On the basis of collected biometric data, it is possible to identify persons with much more precision. The possibility of digitally comparing biometric indicators makes the whole process even more effective. Indeed, this article looks at the implementation – particularly in digital form – of biometrics in travel documents.

In May 2007 Estonia began to digitally add biometric identifiers to travel documents. This will inevitably lead to changes for both the state and the individual. Biometrics is a legally interdisciplinary area, where the basic rights of people, the legal principles in the area of international public law, data protection law and penal law, are all intertwined. This article analyses and assesses the sufficiency of the Estonian legal acts regulating biometrics, and the general readiness of Estonia in implementing biometrics.