PISCES explained

PISCES (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System) is a border control database system largely based on biometrics developed by Booz Allen Hamilton Inc..

Overview

The PISCES-project was initiated by the Department of State, Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP) in 1997, initially as a system for countries in improving their watchlisting capabilities by providing a mainframe computer system to facilitate immigration processing in half a dozen countries. Foreign authorities used the technology to watchlist and exchange information with the United States Department of State about suspected terrorists appearing at their borders. The information is used to track and apprehend individual terrorists, not for wide-ranging analysis of terrorist travel methods", according to US-government reports.[1] It matches passengers inbound for the United States against facial images, fingerprints and biographical information at airports in high-risk countries. A high-speed data network permits U.S. authorities to be informed of problems with inbound passengers.[2]

PISCES workstations installed throughout a country are linked by wide area network to the participating nation’s immigration, police or intelligence headquarters. The headquarters is provided with the automated capability to monitor activities at immigration points, evaluate traveler information and conduct real time data analysis.

Currently the PISCES-project falls under The Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP), an ongoing programme of the United States Department of State. TIP provides all necessary software and hardware (mostly commercial and off-the-shelf, such as cameras and passport scanners), full installation, operator training, and system sustainment. Additionally, TIP assists with immigration business process improvement at ports of entry chosen for PISCES installation.

For FY 2007, funds will be used to support enhancements to the existing watch listing system software in order to provide a fraudulent document detection capability, a biometrics search capability, and improved name-searching effectiveness.

Starting in FY 2010 and onward to FY 2011, PISCES funding will be increased in what the United States Department of State considers "high risk" countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. A project to verify US visas via limited access to a US government database will go under trial in select outposts.[3]

Controversy

Effectiveness

Although PISCES was operational in the months prior to September 11, 2001 it apparently failed to detect any of the terrorists involved in the attack.

According to the US Department of State,[4]

Data-handling

Deployment

In 2003: "is currently being deployed in five countries and is scheduled for deployment in 12 more countries this calendar year. Arrests and detentions have occurred in all five countries where the system has been deployed."[7]

In 2005: "Since 2001, twenty nations have been provided this capability"[8]

Expected 2011: 31

Currently deployed

Maldives
  • PISCES was deployed in Maldives at 0000hrs on 20 August 2013, replacing the border control system developed and installed by NexBiz of Malaysia.[9]
    Iraq
  • FY 2007, NADR/Terrorist Interdiction Program funding is requested to support efforts to disrupt the travel of terrorists into Iraq by increasing the number of Iraqi ports of entry equipped with and capable of effectively operating the program's PISCES watchlisting system.
    Pakistan
  • FY 2002, PISCES system has been installed at seven major airports of the country i.e. Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad airports. The system has provision to accommodate information on suspects from all law enforcement agencies like Immigration, Police, Narcotics Control, Anti-smuggling, and Intelligence Services.[10]
    Malta
  • [11] Inaugurated May 5, 2004 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Dr Tonio Borg and United States Ambassador Anthony H. Gioia. PISCES is being provided by the United States at no cost to Malta, and assistance will include installation of the system, training of immigration officials on use of PISCES, and maintenance of the system. The overall U.S. assistance to Malta for this program is valued at approximately $US 1.5 million, nearly Lm700,000.[12]
    Thailand
    Bangladesh
  • memorandum of understanding signed in May 2004, renewable agreement would be valid for five years. Relevant portions of PISCES will immediately become operational at the capital's Shahjalal International Airport and later expand to cover all land, sea and airports.[14]
    Tanzania
  • The State Department's counterterrorism bureau is funding the "PISCES" (Personal Identification Secure Comparison System) program to improve interdiction capabilities at major border crossings. While the program targets terrorist activities, it has implications for narcotics and other smuggling as well.[15]
    Cambodia
  • FY 2007, NADR Terrorist Interdiction Program (NADR/TIP) funds will be used to sustain a computerized system for collecting, comparing and analyzing traveler data to identify possible terrorists, and provide for software upgrades to the system as they become available.
    Philippines
  • In FY 2007, NADR/TIP funds will be used to expand operation of the program's watchlisting computer system to additional ports of entry in the Republic of the Philippines, and provide for system software upgrades as they become available.
    Kosovo
  • FY 2009, NADR Terrorism Interdiction Program funding will sustain existing program operations and provide for software upgrades to program equipment.[16]
    Macedonia
  • FY 2007, NADR Terrorism Interdiction Program funding will sustain existing program operations and provide for software upgrades to program equipment.
    Côte d'Ivoire
  • FY 2009, NADR Terrorism Interdiction Program funding will sustain existing program operations and provide for software upgrades to program equipment. "The Ivoirian Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the United States, uses PISCES to enhance border security at its major airport and seaport.":[17] On August 6, 2009, Ivoirian authorities detained Imam Abd al Menhem Qubaysi, a Hizballah spiritual leader and U.S. designated terrorist financier, at the airport upon his arrival on a commercial flight from Lebanon. Qubaysi, who lived in Côte d'Ivoire for a number of years, was denied entry at immigration and returned to Lebanon on the same flight through the use of PISCES.[18]

    On 27 March 2018, the country and the US government signed a Memorandum of Intention on the donation of a System for Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation (PISCES). In cooperation with Bosnia's Council of Ministers, the US government aims to install and maintain all the hardware and software required for the PISCES system to operate - starting with the International airport Sarajevo and later expanding to other airports and border crossings in the country.[19]

    Expected future deployment

    Former deployment

    Unclear

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the US . 9/11 and Terrorist Travel . 2004-06-22 . 2006-08-15 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20060816014621/http://www.mipt.org/pdf/September-11-And-Terrorist-Travel.pdf . August 16, 2006.
    2. Web site: Madsen . Wayne . Wayne Madsen (journalist) . The Business of the Watchers . Multinational Monitor . 2002-03-01 . 2006-08-15 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20060418103607/http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2002/02march/march02corp3.html . April 18, 2006.
    3. Web site: Summary and Highlights International Affairs Function . US State Dept . 2010-10-10 .
    4. Web site: S/CT Success Stories . US Department of State . 2004-04-14 . 2006-07-31.
    5. Web site: State Department Briefing, July 20 . US Department of State . 2005-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050730030858/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2005/07/mil-050720-usia03.htm . dead . 2005-07-30 . 2006-08-15.
    6. Web site: FY 2002 Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations . Office of the Secretary of State . 2001-07-01 . 2006-08-01.
    7. Web site: Testimony by J. Cofer Black . Senate Foreign Relations Committee . 2003-03-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060912091612/http://merln.ndu.edu/MERLN/PFIraq/archive/state/18795pf.pdf . dead . 2006-09-12 . 2006-08-15.
    8. Web site: Testimony by William P. Pope . House International Relations Committee . 2005-03-10 . 2006-08-15 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20060816005559/http://wwwa.house.gov/international_relations/109/pop031005.htm . August 16, 2006.
    9. Tweet by Maldives Defense Minister Col. (ret) Mohamed Nazim https://twitter.com/nazim7878/status/369669566265188352
    10. News: Malik . Rehman . Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES) . Federal Investigation Agency . 2005-03-03 . 2005-07-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060502020209/http://www.fia.gov.pk/prj_pisces.htm . 2006-05-02 . dead .
    11. News: Vella . M. . Howdy pard'ner . Malta Today . 2005-10-09 . 2006-07-31 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20060810183106/http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2005/10/09/t11.html . August 10, 2006.
    12. United States Government Provides Border Security System to Malta . Maltese Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs . 2004-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051028122555/http://www.mjha.gov.mt/news/pressreleases/pdf2004/may/pr_pisces_05052004.pdf . dead . 2005-10-28 . 2006-08-15.
    13. Web site: FY 2007 Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations . Office of the Secretary of State . 2006-02-13 . 2006-08-02.
    14. News: Khan . Sharier . Left Parties Slam US-Bangladesh Anti-Terror Pact . OneWorld South Asia . 2004-05-21 . 2006-07-31 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20050328155347/http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/86538/1/ . March 28, 2005.
    15. Web site: International Narcotics Control Strategy Report . US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs . 2006-04-01 . 2006-08-01.
    16. Web site: FY 2009 Foreign Operations Appropriated Assistance: Kosovo . US State Dept . 2010-04-01 . 2010-08-01.
    17. Web site: Country Reports: Africa Overview . US State Dept . 2009-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100817190706/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140883.htm . dead . 2010-08-17 . 2011-01-05.
    18. Web site: 2009 Country Reports on Terrorism - Cote D'Ivoire . UNHCR . 2010-08-05 . 2011-01-05.
    19. News: Bosnia and USA enhancing cooperation in area of security. N1 BA. 2018-05-14. bs-Latn-BA.
    20. Web site: Testimony by Karl Wycoff . House International Relations Committee . 2004-04-01 . 2006-08-15 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20060816013213/http://wwwa.house.gov/international_relations/108/Wyc040104.htm . August 16, 2006.
    21. Web site: Testimony of Ron Arends, CBN . Canadian Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration . 2003-04-01 . 2006-07-31 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20060914084711/http://www.parl.gc.ca/InfocomDoc/37/2/CIMM/Meetings/Evidence/CIMMEV51-E.HTM . September 14, 2006.
    22. Web site: End-Use Monitoring Report . US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs . 2005-11-01 . 2006-08-01.

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