Facial recognition technology could allow British travellers to pass through e-gates at UK airports without needing to show their passports. New "contactless borders" are expected to be introduced at Birmingham and East Midlands airports in the coming weeks.
Passengers would still need to carry their passports for check-in and boarding. The system is then expected to be extended to all e-gates, currently operating at 13 UK airports, by early next year. Initially, it is expected to work for British passport holders, with potential expansion to other nationalities with biometric passports.
Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, stated that the move could speed up border control by 25 per cent. He added that it would result in a "more secure border and a much faster transit through the airport."
The current process, which aims to speed up border checks, is reportedly often delayed by issues such as dirty passport chips or incorrect placement of passports in machines. Under the new system, airlines would transmit passport photos of arriving British passengers to Border Control. Those not recognised by the e-gate would be asked to scan their passport, and if that fails, they would be directed to a Border Force officer.
Privacy activists have raised concerns about the technology, warning that it is error-ridden and risks the UK becoming a surveillance state due to a lack of laws protecting citizen privacy. Big Brother Watch reported that 80 per cent of people misidentified by facial recognition in London in 2025 were Black, and warned that the technology discriminates against women and people of colour.