According to local Singaporean media reports, in order to quickly verify identities, the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will launch the Biometrics Hub (BioHub). This system, which integrates information from various databases and collects personal biometric data such as fingerprints and facial features, will effectively assist checkpoint officers in verifying the identities of entrants.
Previously, checkpoint officers had to access different databases based on the entrant's status. With this one-stop central database, they will be able to ascertain an entrant's identity much faster.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority introduced this new system at a work seminar, noting that the central database has passed the trial phase and will be gradually rolled out this year.
The Director of the Technology Division at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority stated in an interview that in the past, personal data was stored in separate databases, and officers might have had to access approximately five different databases to verify an individual's identity. With the Biometrics Hub, they can now verify identities within seconds.
Furthermore, such a system also facilitates the work of officers on patrol, who can use mobile detectors at any time to identify individuals through the Biometrics Hub. These handheld detectors are equipped with camera and fingerprint scanning functions. After officers input the individual's personal information, take their photo, and capture their fingerprints using the device, they can verify their identity through the central database. These mobile detectors will be equipped with encryption settings to prevent data leaks.
The Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs stated in his speech at the seminar that an average of 400,000 people passed through checkpoints daily last year. Frontline officers must remain vigilant against smugglers and individuals attempting to conceal their identities. Officers must perform their monitoring duties diligently and maintain strict controls, which inevitably takes time during periods of high traffic. He added that to improve efficiency, the authorities are not only strengthening manpower but also utilizing technology to enhance service quality.
