Introduction

• Author: European Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (EU body or agency)
• Pages: 8-9

eu-LISA PUBLIC

EURODAC MSI/OPTICAL SCAN TSSR  8

eu-LISA PUBLIC

1 )ntroduction

The European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of

Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) operates IT systems hosted in its data centre in Strasbourg, France,

and in a backup data centre in Sankt Johann Im Pongau, near Salzburg, Austria.

Starting the 1st of April 2019, for a maximum duration of 2 months, as per the mandate received from the

Eurodac Advisory Group (AG), eu-LISA with the s upport of two Member States had coordinated tests study

related to the usage of a new fingerprint scanning technique in the context of Eurodac.

MSI Imaging acquires multiple images of the surface and subsurface characteristics of the finger. MSI is believed

to have advantages over conventional technologies:

 multiple anatomical features below the surface of the skin that have the same pattern as the surface

can be imaged by MSI;

 MSI sensors a re designed to collect usable biometric dat a under a broad range of conditions and

compensate for poor quality or missing surface features;

 MSI also measures physiological matrix of a fingerprint and can thus tell if it comes from a living finger

or some other material (s poof proof). Customized algorithms fuses multiple raw MSI Images into one

composite image.

 MSI fingerprints scans are backwards compatible and can be used with existing databases.

The purpose of this study was to assess if the use of Multispectral Imaging devices, for the scanning of

fingerprints, affects the performance of the Central Eurodac System (matching accuracy etc.). Based on the

outcome, it is determ ined whether such devices should be allowed for general use within the scope of

application of Regulation (EU) No. 60 3- the Recast Regulation To do this eu -LISA had tested the new

scanners with real fingerprints provided by competent national authorities of the Member States of the

European Economic Area (EEA).

1.1 The Purpose of the Document

The present document describes the Test Study Summary Report (TSSR) for the tests perf ormed during the

execution of the MSI/Optical Scan Project. Starting the 1st of April 2019 until the 15th of May 2019, eu-LISA

supervised the execution of the MS tests in order to evaluate if the use of Multispectral Imaging devices, for the

scanning of fingerprints, a ffects the performance of the Central Eurodac System. This TSSR aggregates the

findings of the different tests and ends with eu-LISAs conclusions.

1.2 Intended Audience

This report is for immediate distribution to the Eurodac Advisory Group as well as for eu-LISA. It shall also serve

as a basis for decisions taken by other stakeholders and institutions and should be annexed to them.

1.3 Description of the Project

The project was initiated in Q2-2014 by eu-LISA after the request of European Comm ission during the Eurodac

Advisory Group (AG) as the outcome of the problem raised by some Member States about incoming MSI h its

on records owned by Sweden and Norway. This was shortly before the beginning of the migratory crisis. Given

the nature of the tests and the lack of usable data, it is the first eu-LISA project where it is a llowed to make-use

of live data for testing purposes. To this avail, eu-LISA obtained a positive opinion from the EDPS on 25