UK airports are rolling out contactless facial recognition at eGates, starting at East Midlands and covering all 13 by early 2027.
Faces will be matched to passport photos, although passports must still be carried. Biometric images may be kept for 30 days for UK citizens and up to six years for foreigners, raising privacy concerns. Separately, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has fast-tracked a Bill allowing non-photo bank cards as voter ID, lowering the voting age to 16 and tightening donation rules.
The Bill aims to cut barriers that excluded 16,000 voters in 2024, but critics said scrutiny is being rushed amid speculation about an early election, which Burnham has rejected. The Electoral Commission has warned that non-photo cards could hinder verification.
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