The system is designed to alert officials to travellers who may give the impression of planning to commit terrorist acts.

The Pisces permits real-time exchange of photos and personal details between the immigration bureau and the FBI. The system is being used in “high-risk” countries worldwide, according to the CIA.

PISCES is used to collect personal information about passengers, together with biometric features such as height, skin and hair colour, eye colour, identification marks and fingerprints.

Malta, contrary to all EU member states, accepted the introduction of this system on 6 May. PISCES will be installed at the Malta International Airport, the Sea Passenger Terminal, Ta’ Xbiex marina and the ferry terminal in Gozo.

Moviment Graffitti believes that the system demonstrates the “big brother” attitude of the US, especially after the 11 September attacks. Although the terrorism attacks on innocent civilians has been condemned more than once by Moviment Graffitti, the movement still believes it is time the US government realised that a system such as PISCES clearly infringes personal privacy. It also points out that although PISCES was operational in the months prior to 11 September, it apparently failed to detect any of the terrorists involved in the attack. Moviment Graffitti asked: “In whose interest was the decision to install PISCES taken? Can it be misused by the government or/and any private groups involved with the system to gather information about ordinary citizens? How credible is the system? Why have all EU member states declined to install PISCES, except Malta? What if Mr X becomes a casualty of somebody’s security operation as part of the war on terror and he wasn’t a terrorist anyway?”

Moviment Graffitti said it believed the government was bowing to the Bush Administration’s demands and requests too quickly without consulting anybody. “Apart from this, by making such alliances with the US, Malta is ruining her relationship with other Mediterranean Arab countries which can have a profound effect on Malta’s foreign relations. Malta is made a ‘high-risk’ country target to terrorism by having it listed among the allies of President George W. Bush in his war on terror,” concluded the organisation.