In a bid to tackle identity fraud, an increasing number of Belgian municipalities are taking a proactive step to offer residents free passport photos. However, professional photographers are decrying the initiative as a theft of their income.
Under the Live Enrolment project, spearheaded by the Federal Government, residents in 70% of Belgian municipalities will no longer need to provide a passport photo when applying for identity cards or travel passes. Instead, they can have their photos taken on the spot at the municipal counter, free of charge. This move aims to streamline the application process and enhance security measures against identity fraud.
The government is strengthening its efforts to eliminate uncertainties surrounding the validity and age of supplied passport photos, thereby bolstering the fight against identity fraud. To support this endeavour, Belgium secured funding from Europe, enabling the provision of free photographic equipment to municipalities to ensure the authenticity of photos taken on-site.
'Robbery'
While the prospect of receiving a complimentary photo at the counter may appear convenient for citizens, it has sparked outrage within the professional photography community.
Belgian photographer Mieke Coppieters of Beroeps Fotografen labelled the initiative as "robbery" to De Standaard. Together with industry stakeholders, Coppieters launched an online petition on stop-live-enrollment.be, emphasising the impact on photographers' livelihoods.
Coppieters acknowledged the need to combat fraud but contended that professional photographers could contribute to the solution by providing equipment with digitally secure platforms. She argued that many countries adopt this approach, focusing on fraud prevention while entrusting passport photo-taking to the private sector.
In response, Nathalie Debast, spokesperson for the Flemish Association of Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), underscored the urgency of addressing identity fraud, asserting in De Standaard that local governments must assume responsibility. Despite the push for Live Enrollment, VVSG emphasised municipal autonomy, allowing each municipality to decide whether to participate.
Related News
- Palestinian families live under 'Sword of Damocles' as Belgian denationalisation continues
- Brussels expats are eligible to vote. Here’s how (and why) to have your say
Since the project's inception in 2022, 405 out of 581 Belgian municipalities have opted to take part, with the Federal Government supplying equipment to facilitate the process. However, not all municipalities are on board. In Glabbeek (Flemish Brabant), for instance, residents are still required to provide passport photos, prompting Mayor Peter Reekmans to condemn the initiative as governmental overreach.
As the rollout of Live Enrolment continues, the debate between convenience, security and economic impact persists, reflecting broader tensions between public service provision and private sector interests.
