« First week on the job | Main | Video games and brain development »
September 16, 2005
Why I am in Asia, or: No smiles allowed
How can I take "my country" serious, when one needs an official ruling that says that I cannot smile when I take a picture for my passport. Okay, there are valid reasons behind it, but somehow, it sounds rediculous. I rather be in Asia. There are "funy" rules as well (I don't want to mention any here), but at least, people smile. Most of the time, at least.
"Germans were ordered Thursday to stay serious when having their photographs taken for new passports, wiping away any grins, smirks or smiles so that biometric scanners can pick up their facial features. Interior Minister Otto Schily ordered passport authorities to only accept pictures taken from the front showing the "most neutral facial expression possible," starting Nov. 1. Facial recognition systems match key features on the holder's face and work best when the face has a neutral expression with the mouth closed. "A broad smile, however nice it may be, is therefore unacceptable," the Interior Ministry said in a statement." Source: AFP
Posted by Andreas at September 16, 2005 01:03 PM
Comments
hmmm... someone actually told me that we can't smile for malaysian passport too. no?
Posted by: adriene at October 15, 2005 12:17 AM
Services with a Smile.
:)
Posted by: viv at October 1, 2005 07:11 AM
LOL! Andreas, this is so funny. 'Cos all the Germans I worked with (I worked in a German company before) have very stern face. Now, they are ordered not to smile. LOL!
Posted by: lilian at September 20, 2005 01:54 AM
think they are implementing the same thing in UK.
Posted by: boringest at September 16, 2005 07:33 PM
Well, I smile whenever I see someone, be it an immigration office or an old lady. The last thing I do is actually frown. So I don't really see the harm in smiling for the camera. Heh.
Posted by: Mei at September 16, 2005 01:15 PM
well, if it's for security that's fair enough no?
Posted by: Lainie at September 16, 2005 01:08 PM