The United States has compiled a biometric database of three million Iraqis.

A few days ago, the Americans announced the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. They did not leave empty-handed, but took the biometric data of three million Iraqi residents (approximately 10% of the population). For several years, American infantrymen carried with them portable optical scanners that allow them to quickly take a picture of the iris and take fingerprints of any passer-by in the field.

The valuable database is owned by the American Army and will be stored in the United States.

To scan citizens, Americans used the stationary ABIS (Automated Biometric Identification System) system and portable HIIDE devices. The latter looks like ordinary digital cameras with an LCD display, but in a rubberized case and with additional holes for scanning fingerprints and the iris.
')






The stationary ABIS system, after scanning, makes up a 3D model of each of the ten fingers, takes five shots of the face. In addition, all tattoos on the body are added to the base.



Although this situation of exporting a database with biometric information resembles the removal of trophies after a victory (for example, the Indians also liked to shoot scalps), in fact, the actions of Americans are dictated not by ancient instincts, but by clear logic. The biometric base will be used to combat terrorism. Apparently, it will sometime help in solving crimes in the territory of other countries, including terrorist acts. It can be assumed that Americans very far-sightedly view Iraqis as potential terrorists who could pose a threat to America’s security.

Interestingly, the database is not even closely considered by anyone from an intellectual property point of view. Even the Iraqi government, not to mention the citizens themselves, will not get access to information on their citizens, here the “more important” martial law comes into play. Although formally, the military leadership promises to provide access to the database to its Iraqi partners, if they make the appropriate request to the American embassy.

For several years of military presence in Iraq, the Americans carefully scanned all suspicious personalities, including a total biometric scan from residents of rebel cities such as Fallujah. Without presenting an identification card with biometric data, no resident could pass through the checkpoint and enter the city. Similarly, all those who claimed to serve in the police or government structures were scanned. That is, the information was collected on the "bad guys" and on the "good" - any in the future may be useful. Although the war is technically over, but this database will be useful for Americans for many years.

A similar program of total biometric scanning operates in Afghanistan. All information from this and other programs flows into a single DNA Registry system, which is maintained by the Ministry of Defense.

via Wired