GWOT: BIOMETRICS AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN SAUDI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 000347 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/CT FRED VOGEL AND CA ALCY FRELICK E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2017 TAGS: KVPR PTER PREL PGOV PINR CVIS ASEC KHLS SUBJECT: GWOT: BIOMETRICS AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN SAUDI ARABIA RIYADH 00000347 001.2 OF 002 //////ZFR///////ZFR/////////ZFR///////ZFR//// //ZFR//////// PLEASE CANCEL RIYADH 347 AND ALL ASSOCIATED MCNS. POST REGRETS ANY INCONVIENIENCE CAUSED. CABLE WILL BE RESENT UNDER NEW MRN. ////ZFR/////////ZFR////////ZFR///////ZFR///// //ZFR//////// RIYADH 00000347 002 OF 002 soft-cover booklets for their primary identification in Saudi Arabia, though diplomats are issued the hard-plastic card version. ¶7. (SBU) Saudi Arabia has recently begun implementing separate fingerprinting systems for citizens obtaining passport services and for illegal immigrants prior to deportation. The deportee fingerprint system is linked to the National Information Center (NIC). ¶8. (C) The NIC is based in Riyadh, under the authority of the Ministry of Interior. They are the repository of matters relating to the Saudi national interest and has a function, at least in part, similar to that of our own Terrorist Screening Center. The use of fingerprinting for passports is new and quite limited, but authorities hope to expand the local database over the next five years. There is an interest in developing facial recognition and iris-scan technologies in the future, budget and resource constraints permitting. -------------- Identifying Appropriate Partners -------------- ¶9. (S/NF) Cooperation between Saudi authorities and USG elements is strong. Cooperation and liasion exchange between the Ministry of Interior's "Mubahith" internal intelligence service and our own service is particularly strong. Where needed, requests for additional information sharing would generally best be routed through these existing channels. OBERWETTER