Malcolm Owen
The United Kingdom is planning to launch an app that allows European Union citizens to apply to stay in the country after Brexit next year, but while it will work with Android devices, officials are reportedly having issues running it on iPhones and iPads.
The UK will be leaving the European Union in March 2019, an event that brings with it numerous challenges, including what happens to EU citizens living in the country. One solution by the government is to create an app that enables the estimated 3.5 million EU citizens to apply for "settled status."
According to the BBC, the app asks three "simple" questions, requires the user take a selfie, and then to scan the contactless chip embedded in the passport to verify their identity. While Android devices are able to use NFC to communicate with the passport chip, the same process cannot be performed on an iPhone.
The passport scanning is required as an authentication procedure, only using the embedded chip to confirm the person's identity. The app is solely for applying for the settled status designation, and while it does acquire data from a passport, it does not become an electronic passport or a form of identification in its own right.
Under the existing situation, those wishing to take part in the scheme but have iPhones will have to borrow someone else's Android device to use the app or post their passport to the UK Visa and Immigration Service for processing, which may take longer than the anticipated two-weeks for an app-based decision.
The UK's Home Office was aware there would be problems with Apple devices at the time of the app's announcement earlier this year, but hoped there would be an update that would free up NFC for passport scanning. Despite requests from ministers and a visit to Apple Park by Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Apple has so far refused to implement the changes.
Apple has largely refrained from opening up NFC from its existing Apple Pay transactions for security purposes, with relatively few non-financial uses permitted. A September update to Core NFC, the iOS system used for such transactions, enabled an NFC tag to open up a specific app for reading it among other changes, but only using a specific set of formats.
While rumors suggested NFC would be unlocked fully to third-party apps as part of iOS 12.1, Apple advised to the BBC this was not true.
Apple is reportedly said to be continuing to work with the Home Office on the app, but sources would not speculate on whether it will be ready in time for the March Brexit deadline. Sources in the Home Office advised "we are continuing to engage with Apple at the highest level."
The issues have led to immigration minister Carloine Nokes expressing frustration at the matter on Tuesday to the Home Affairs Committee. Minsters were advised by Nokes the Home Office could not be blamed for the issue, as Apple "won't release the upgrade we need in order for it to function."
The UK is not the only government who would stand to benefit from being able to scan passports with an iPhone. The Netherlands has also asked for Apple to do the same, which would enable citizens to authenticate themselves using the travel document to access governmental digital services.
Apple has previously expressed an interest in making iPhones work as a passport, with on August patent application suggesting the use of the Secure Enclave and NFC to be used as a form of official identification.
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42 Comments
What a well thought through plan, very in keeping with this whole Brexit debacle.
Perhaps the UK and the Netherlands should be asking themselves how come Apple doesn't deem the current system secure. I'd put my money on Apple understanding this issue better than they do and after all, this is a rather important issue vis a vis security (see what I did there? ;))
Predictable response from a UK government department; blame others for their own failure to design correct something within a stated framework. Much like how this government insists that it’s the EU’s job to flex their position to accommodate something the UK voted for.
Looking forward to the day Scotland frees itself from this ageing, dysfunctional, backward looking kingdom.
So I can use an Android app to scan anyone's passport and retrieve their data. Sounds great for all those people still creating false passports. Apple Pay is a closed loop system while the BBC article doesn't give any technical specifics on how this information would be protected. Apple Pay requires an initial credit card verification step before using. I don't see that happening with the Brexit app. The selfie is manually checked but that's after the fact. Who's to say someone can't take a photo of someone else, then capture their passport information. Does the UK already have photos of everyone (passport photos can be 10 years old in the US making them almost unidentifiable for many people). If the UK really wanted Apple's help, I'm sure Apple could do something but it would have to be more secure than the simple process described in this article.
What scares me more was discovering my Costco Citi Visa card has a scannable chip in it so any app with the ability to scan these chips could easily steal my chipped card information and copy it. I thought chipped cards were supposed to be more secure than magnetic strip cards but now I'm seeing they really aren't, especially if I can get a free app from the UK government to scan them.
And what company that provides mobile platform has to do with political problems in EU and UK? Get real. Pretty soon they will demand applications. That is a service and if you do not like platform then move out... or develope yourself including dongles that would do whatever you need.