PISCES

PISCES (Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System) is a border control database system largely based on biometrics developed by Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. for the CIA.cite web
last = Madsen
first = Wayne
authorlink = Wayne Madsen
title = The Business of the Watchers
publisher = Multinational Monitor
date = 2002-03-01
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IAVs19en
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ] It is currently deployed in x countries, with financial and logistical supported by the United States Department of State "Terrorist Interdiction Program".

Overview

The PISCES-project was initiated by the CIA in 1997, initially as a system to non-US 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 CIA about suspected terrorists appearing at their borders. The CIA "used the information to track and apprehend individual terrorists, not for wide-ranging analysis of terrorist travel methods", according to US-government reports.cite web
publisher = National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the US
title = 9/11 and Terrorist Travel
date = 2004-06-22
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IAC4S8Pt
format = pdf
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ] 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.

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.

Through speculation this may be linked as a pre-cursor of the bio-chip, wherein a human is tracked and or monitored in regards to their location and proximity to certain landmarks in order to ascertain their whereabouts, in order to assist Law Enforcement in the apprehension of a known "terrorist suspect", and or any other relevant suspect or "enemy combatant", and or "person of interest." See also "VeriChip", "RFID", "XM-Radio", "Sirius Radio", "GPS Devices", "cell phone tracking", "On-Star", "Lo-Jack", "parole trackers" and any other relevant tracking device.

Currently the PISCES-project falls under the "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 requested will support significant enhancements to the existing watch listing system software in order to provide a fraudulent document detection capability, a biometrics search capability, and greatly improved name-searching effectiveness. Funds will also support program expansion and strengthening specifically within the highest priority countries, namely Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Kenya. Funds are also required to sustain existing system capabilities in the twenty other countries expected to be participating in the program in 2007.

Controversy

Effectivenes:

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

According to the US Departement of State,cite web
title = S/CT Success Stories
publisher = US Department of State
date = 2004-04-14
url = http://www.state.gov/s/ct/field/c17575.htm#tip
accessdate = 2006-07-31 ]

* TIP provided photos and travel history to Pakistan of three of the four July 7, 2005 London Metro bombers.
* Within one week of TIP's introduction, a ring of human traffickers were identified at Chiang Mai, Thailand.
* Hundreds of travelers have been interdicted in Pakistan on suspicion of using stolen passports.
* "... "in terms of linking it to specific arrests, nothing that I have -- nothing that I'm aware of"."cite web
title = State Department Briefing, July 20
publisher = US Department of State
date = 2005-07-20
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IAVKD30P
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ]

Data-handeling:

* Malta-debate
** Is it being passed on to other third parties, for example, without the prior knowledge of the passengers themselves? In October 2004, Vienna International Airport authorities refused disembarcation to two Syrian nationals on Air Malta flight KM513, suspecting them to be potential illegal immigrants.
** several international reports claim the tracking system, originally designed for the Central Intelligence Agency, is connected to the FBI.
** The US embassy in Malta has claimed PISCES is a standalone system, and not part of any network connected to the US government.
** But a US congressional report on Pakistani anti-terrorism cooperation claims it is able to make “real-time comparisons of photographs and other personal details with the FBI database in order to track the movements of Islamic militants.”
* India has rejected an American offer for installation of its surveillance system PISCES, fearing compromise on its sovereignty.cite news
last = Haque
first = Faizul
title = India turns down US PISCES
publisher = The Nation (Pakistan)
date = 2005-08-13
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5Hncv0D4P
accessdate = 2006-07-31 ]
* INTERPOL: "... TIP will also assist the upgrading of INTERPOL's communications system to transmit fingerprints, photos and other graphics on a near-real time basis to and from a participating country’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB). INTERPOL data can hen be imported into PISCES to expand the pool of suspects."cite web
title = FY 2002 Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations
publisher = Office of the Secretary of State
date = 2001-07-01
url = http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/cbj/2002/
accessdate = 2006-08-01 ]

Participating countries

Since 2000: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Yemen [cite web
publisher = United States General Accounting Office
title = Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs Follow Legal Authority, but Some Activities Need Reassessment
url=http://www.webcitation.org/5IAYIbeyP
date= 2004-04-01
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ]

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."cite web
title = Testimony by J. Cofer Black
publisher = Senate Foreign Relations Committee
date = 2003-03-18
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IAUHdoz8
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ]

In 2005: "Since 2001, twenty nations have been provided this capability"cite web
title = Testimony by William P. Pope
publisher = House International Relations Committee
date = 2005-03-10
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IATKk5Vc
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ]

Expected 2007: 25Fact|date=February 2007

Currently deployed

* 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.cite news
last = Joseph
first = Josy
title = In bits and Pisces US has Pakistan in its grip
publisher = Times Of India
date = 2004-10-12
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5HnEEeeWI
accessdate = 2006-07-31 ]
* Malta.cite news
last = Vella
first = M.
title = Howdy pard’ner
publisher = Malta Today
date = 2005-10-09
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5HnFNWXRs
accessdate = 2006-07-31 ] Inaugurated 2004-05-05 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. [cite press release
title = United States Government Provides Border Security System to Malta
publisher = Maltese Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs
date = 2004-05-05
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IAQjXVNI
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ]
* Thailand:
** March 2004, during his visit to Thailand, Secretary Ridge and I witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Intent for Provision of a Terrorist Interdiction Program Border Control System. Under this Memorandum, the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System, known in short as PISCES, could be used to screen people passing through Thailand’s ports of entry, so that we may be able to detect suspected terrorists.
** In FY 2007, NADR/TIP funds will be used to expand operation of the program’s watchlisting computer system to additional ports of entry and provide for system software upgrades as they become available.cite web
title = FY 2007 Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations
publisher = Office of the Secretary of State
date = 2006-02-13
url = http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/cbj/2007/
accessdate = 2006-08-02 ]
* 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 Zia International Airport and later expand to cover all land, sea and airports.cite news
last = Khan
first = Sharier
title = Left Parties Slam US-Bangladesh Anti-Terror Pact
publisher = OneWorld South Asia
date = 2004-05-21
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5HnYwwG5M
accessdate = 2006-07-31 ]
* 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.cite web
title = International Narcotics Control Strategy Report
publisher = US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
date = 2006-04-01
url = http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2006/vol1/html/62112.htm
accessdate = 2006-08-01 ]
* Nepal. TIP funding will further fund activities to help Nepal control its borders, as border controls are not yet very advanced, through the installation of the U.S. Terrorist Interdiction Program’s Personal Identification secure Comparison and Evaluation System (PISCES).cite web
title = FY 2007 Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations
publisher = Office of the Secretary of State
date = 2006-02-13
url = http://www.state.gov/s/d/rm/rls/cbj/2007/
accessdate = 2006-08-02 ]
* 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.
* Philiphines. 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 2007 NADR Terrorism Interdiction Program funding will sustain existing program operations and provide for software upgrades to program equipment.
* Macedonia. FY 2007 NADR Terrorism Interdiction Program funding will sustain existing program operations and provide for software upgrades to program equipment.

Expected future deployment

* Algeria. In FY 2007, NADR/Terrorism Interdiction Program (TIP) assistance is requested to implement new program operations and equipment that Algeria will use in support of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
* Morocco. In FY 2007, NADR/Terrorism Interdiction Program (TIP) assistance is requested to implement new program operations and equipment that Morocco will use in support of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
* Tunesia. NADR/Terrorist Interdiction Program (TIP) funds are requested to launch program operations and provide necessary equipment.
* Yemen. NADR/Terrorism Interdiction Program (TIP) assistance is requested to implement new and increased program operations and provide equipment that Yemen will use in support of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
* Afghanistan
* Kenya Since mid-2003, the Terrorist Interdiction Program computer system has been operational at select airports;cite web
title = Testimony by Karl Wycoff
publisher = House International Relations Committee
date = 2004-04-01
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5IASWcuDR
accessdate = 2006-08-15 ] scheduled for NADR-TIP funding in FY 2007
* Tanzania Since mid-2003, the Terrorist Interdiction Program computer system has been operational at select airports; scheduled for NADR-TIP funding in FY 2007
* Ethiopia Since mid-2003, the Terrorist Interdiction Program computer system has been operational at select airports; scheduled for NADR-TIP funding in FY 2007

Former deployment

* Azerbaijan: Part of Canadian Bank Note Company ID card and passport-issuing and inspection system in Azerbaijan was a border control system that replaced the CIA's Pisces system in Azerbaijan.cite web
title = Testimony of Ron Arends, CBN
publisher = Canadian Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
date = 2003-04-01
url = http://www.webcitation.org/5HnGXRP1A
accessdate = 2006-07-31 ] No TIP-funding FY 2007.
* Nicaragua In 2003, post began the deployment of a new immigration computer system called PISCES. The contractor made the original equipment installations, but was unable to follow through with making the system operational due to the greater demand to bring the system on line in the Middle East. PISCES should be operational in 2005. The contractor will provide training to Nicaraguan Immigration personnel.cite web
title = End-Use Monitoring Report
publisher = US Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
date = 2005-11-01
url = http://www.state.gov/p/inl/rls/rpt/eum/2004/53980.htm
accessdate = 2006-08-01 ] No TIP-funding FY 2007

Unclear

* Côte d'Ivore, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Georgia are scheduled for NADR-TIP funding in FY 2007.
* Djibouti is expected to be operational this year (2004); scheduled for NADR-TIP funding in FY 2007
* Uganda is expected to be operational this year (2004); scheduled for NADR-TIP funding in FY 2007

ee also

* Booz Allen Hamilton

References