Global: Israel Implements New Biometric Technology at West Bank Border

Israel has quietly begun deploying new biometric technology at the border for Palestinians traveling between the country and the West Bank, according to a report by The New Arab. Palestinian travelers are now required to undergo facial recognition scans and present their biometric ID cards at border checkpoints.

Although Israel has long been able to collect biometric data at these checkpoints, the introduction of enhanced biometric systems follows the imposition of widespread travel restrictions on Palestinians. These restrictions were enacted after the October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israeli civilians, which escalated Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

In December, Israeli authorities began allowing Palestinian laborers to return to their jobs in Israel. However, thousands of Palestinians continue to face the challenge of entering Israel illegally, risking up to six months of imprisonment if caught, according to media reports.

The biometric systems are reportedly provided by MadEye, an Israeli company known for supplying security technology to the Israel Airports Authority, the National Cyber Directorate, and international clients, including the NBA, presumably for stadium surveillance.

Israel’s expanded use of biometric technology has drawn criticism, with accusations of human rights violations against Palestinians gaining traction, especially amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which has claimed over 41,000 lives, most of them Palestinian.

U.S.-based companies have also come under scrutiny regarding their involvement with Israeli security forces. In May, Norwegian asset management firm Storebrand divested from IBM following allegations that the company’s biometric technology underpins Israel’s border management system.

Questions have also been raised about Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract signed in 2021 between Google, Amazon Web Services, and the Israeli military, which involves the provision of cloud services and machine learning tools.

Additionally, the Israeli military’s use of facial recognition technology in Gaza, reportedly involving Corsight and Google Photos, has come under fire, as detailed in a New York Times report.

According to 7amleh, a Palestinian digital rights organization, the introduction of MadEye’s biometric technology at West Bank checkpoints represents a further erosion of Palestinian rights. Nadim Nashif, director of 7amleh, warns that “the installation of artificial intelligence technology at checkpoints in the West Bank poses significant risks, as it can lead to increased surveillance and control over Palestinians, violating their digital rights, particularly their right to privacy, and further restricting their freedom of movement.”