The Georgian Interior Ministry on Wednesday said it had launched an electronic facial recognition programme earlier this month to increase the effectiveness of control at border checkpoints across the country.
The Ministry said the system would enable border guards and controllers to “promptly and accurately” identify wanted, deported, banned or other offending individuals via automated data processing.
It said the effective operation of the system would “significantly contribute” to the protection of state and public safety, and noted the programme was also ensuring that Georgia fulfilled its obligations under various international agreements, including better management of the visa-free travel with the countries of the European Union and the Schengen Area.
Facial recognition programmes were being “successfully used” in a number of European countries and were an “effective means of combating illegal migration”, the body added.