Brits banned from smiling

2005-09-12 12:11

London - Smiles are banned from British passport photographs from Monday following the introduction of new scanners which focus on biometrical recognition and require applicants to keep a straight face.

Under the new rules, potential travellers must produce "a neutral expression with your mouth closed", according to the instruction sheet from the Home Office.

Because some people's eyes close when they produce what you might call a "serious smile", applicants are also required to show your whites, the Guardian reported.

In the United States, where similar technology is already in use, passport holders have been staring straight ahead for more than a year.

The recording of biometric data on passports and identity cards is hailed by the authorities as an effective new tool in the fight against terrorism, fraud and organised crime.

"While the introduction of face recognition technology may improve international security, the denial of the right to smile means that passports and ID cards will, paradoxically, reveal less of our identity than before," said the Guardian. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA