11/10/2024
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11/10/2024
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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 10: Brigadier Nayef Al-Mutairi, Director of the Personality Investigation and Automated Search Department at the General Department of Criminal Evidence, highlighted the importance of biometric data for identifying and verifying individuals. In an interview on Kuwait TV’s "60 Minutes," Al-Mutairi stated that the process of identity verification has evolved, starting with verbal inquiries, moving to handwritten identification documents, and now progressing to biometric fingerprinting and other advanced technologies.
He noted that early identification methods, such as paper documents with photos and seals, were vulnerable to fraud and forgery. The introduction of fingerprints marked a significant improvement, but manual searches were time-consuming. With the advent of computerized systems, all fingerprints of citizens and expats were stored in electronic archives, making the process faster and more efficient.
Today, the world has shifted to the use of biometric data, which includes fingerprints, eye prints, facial recognition, DNA, and even voice prints. These methods are stored in a single, highly secure database, protected by unique identifiers that are almost impossible to hack or forge. If there is an attempt to hack the system, it will only display symbols instead of sensitive information.
Al-Mutairi emphasized that some individuals cannot provide fingerprints due to conditions such as being born without fingers, work-related damage to fingerprints, or accidents that cause limb loss. In these cases, other biometric methods, such as retina scanning or DNA, are used for identification.
One of the main goals of the biometric fingerprint project is to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of security personnel in tracking suspects, reducing crime, and protecting society. Additionally, the project aims to streamline government processes, allowing citizens to complete transactions using only their biometric data, eliminating the need for physical papers, and reducing the risk of forgery or fraud.
According to Al-Mutairi, 976,602 Kuwaiti citizens over the age of 18 are eligible for biometric fingerprinting. So far, 945,176 citizens have completed the process, while 31,426 have not, including students abroad, individuals undergoing medical treatment, their companions, and diplomatic personnel. The biometric cards of those who haven't completed the process have been suspended, with exceptions made for the aforementioned groups.
Among expatriates, 2,660,766 are eligible for fingerprinting, with 1,937,272 having completed it, while 723,494 have yet to do so. Their deadline to complete the process is set for the end of this year.
