Marco Rubio announces system for passport verification using phone, laptop camera

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced plans to allow Americans to use their smartphone and laptop camera to take passport photos, removing the need to visit photo centres or retail stores for printed pictures. Speaking at the Reception for the Consular Affairs Patriot Passport Launch recently, Marco Rubio said the US State Department is working on technology that will let people complete almost the entire passport application process online. As announced, the new system will use facial recognition to verify passport photos captured on a user's device. Rubio said the changes are aimed at making the passport process faster and more convenient while reducing long wait times and in-person appointments.Passport applications to become more digitalMarco Rubio said the State Department plans to move most of the passport application process online over the coming months. “We are also looking at some technological changes, which we'll be more fully able to announce over the coming months, where it's going to be a lot easier to get a passport in terms of the dynamics of it,” he said.“You’ll actually be able to go online. You’ll be able to do almost all of it entirely online. One of the questions we had was most of the devices that people are using, be it a laptop or a standing computer or what have you, where you would fill out this application, they have cameras on them. I know, it’s shocking. But they have cameras. They have videos that people use,” Rubio said during the event.“You should be able to take that picture on that device as opposed to going somewhere,” he added.He added that the image would be verified in real time using the department's security system and facial recognition technology."You'll be able to do that. You'll be able to do it online entirely, for the most part, with all the right numbers. They'll be able to verify it for you, and you should be able to get it much sooner," he said.New passport features also plannedDuring the event, Marco Rubio also announced other planned updates to US passports. He said future passports will arrive in a presentation box with a certificate of authenticity. The department is also planning to add QR codes that link to videos explaining important moments in American history.Rubio said the online passport system is still being developed and is expected to roll out in the coming months. Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App.