Change in Photo Policy for Flights Abroad at Ben Gurion: The Option to Leave and Return Without Being Photographed at an Automatic Kiosk
New news for travelers at Ben Gurion and the various border crossings: starting this week, travelers who don’t want to be photographed at the automatic kiosks can choose to go to a human border control officer. In addition, the Population and Immigration Authority announced that it has deleted most of the biometric facial photos it stored over the years.
Background to the Change: A Settlement Following a Lawsuit
The move is the result of a settlement reached following a lawsuit filed by attorney Haim Ravia, a cyber and privacy expert, against the Population and Immigration Authority. The lawsuit concerned the violation of travelers’ privacy, after it emerged that the Authority photographed travelers’ faces on leaving and entering Israel, stored the images in biometric quality, and even transferred them to the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) until February 2022.
The Authority’s Commitments Under the Settlement
The settlement, approved by the court and conducted by retired judge Menny Mazuz, who served as mediator, includes several key commitments:
- Deleting biometric photos: the Authority announced that it has deleted all the biometric facial images collected from travelers.
- The option of a human officer: travelers can leave and enter Israel without going through the automatic photo kiosks, by going to a human border control officer.
- Informing the public: clear signs have been posted at border crossings and in the departure and arrival halls, informing travelers of the option to choose a human officer instead of the automatic kiosks.
A Change for the Benefit of Travelers’ Privacy
This change is considered an important step in protecting travelers’ privacy. The option to avoid using the automatic photo kiosks addresses those who are concerned about the use of biometric information and wish to protect their privacy.
It seems this move will make things easier for travelers who want to keep control over the privacy of their information and will increase public awareness of individual rights at border crossings.
How Will It Affect Travelers?
The policy change is designed to give travelers a greater sense of security and privacy when crossing the border. It’s an especially significant move for people concerned about the use of biometric data. Note that service at a human border officer may take a little longer than the automatic kiosks, so it’s recommended to take this into account when planning your time at Ben Gurion.
Are More Changes Expected?
Following the success of the settlement and the Population and Immigration Authority’s cooperation, there are calls to extend these changes to other areas of biometric data collection and use in Israel. Experts in the field argue that this move may be only the first step in a broader struggle to increase transparency and protect public privacy.
How Is the Authority Preparing for the Change?
To prevent congestion and ensure a smooth border crossing for travelers who choose a human officer, the Population Authority plans to train more staff at border crossings and set up additional dedicated booths. It has also committed to publishing detailed explanations on its website and making the information accessible to the general public.
