Computer Weekly revealed on 12 May that Brussels and Washington are negotiating an Enhanced Security Border Partnership that would grant the US Department of Homeland Security reciprocal access to EU biometric databases for visa screening and border checks. While talks are EU-wide, Spain stores millions of fingerprints collected at police stations for national-ID cards and residence permits; these could become searchable by US authorities if Madrid ratifies the final agreement. Spain already participates in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), under which Spaniards may enter the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Under the draft accord, VWP members would have their fingerprints cross-checked against Spanish law-enforcement records when applying for ESTA travel authorisation. Privacy campaigners warn the move may lead to automated profiling and potential entry denials based on minor Spanish offences that have no US equivalent. From a corporate-mobility standpoint, Spanish assignees travelling to US projects may face longer lead times and new data-sharing consent requirements. Companies will need to audit workforce privacy notices and ensure HR systems track whether employees object to cross-border biometric transfers. Data-protection officers should also monitor the Spanish Data-Protection Authority (AEPD) for guidance once text is finalised. Negotiators aim for completion by December 2026, coinciding with the full rollout of Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS. If approved, the pact would mark the first time non-US nationals’ fingerprints are systematically screened against domestic US crime databases before boarding a flight – a sea-change in transatlantic travel security.
Source: Computer Weekly
