ECJ rules against EU law on fingerprints in national IDs

 

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on Thursday (21 March) that a 2019 EU regulation obliging EU citizens to give their fingerprints for national identification cards was founded on the wrong legal basis, declaring the EU law entirely invalid.

The court in Luxemburg also ruled that the obligation to include two fingerprints, despite affecting fundamental rights, is justified.

Even though the legislation was overturned, the ECJ judge ruled that the EU regulation from 2019 remains effective until a new regulation enters into force, at the latest in December 2026. Otherwise, it will expire.

EU regulators required that national ID cards use fingerprints to increase the security of the identification documents.  (...)