Biometrics

Biometrics study

by Mark Rowe

A survey by Steria suggests that over three quarters (81pc) of European citizens are in favour of using biometrics to identify criminals. However, while a majority of citizens support the use of biometrics in identity cards or passports (69 per cent) as well as to enter secure areas (69pc), less than half (45 per cent) are in favour of the use of biometrics to replace PIN numbers for bank cards. Citizens are still wary of embracing this technology in their everyday lives, it is suggested by Steria, a IT-based business services company. The survey was among 3,650 respondents from across Europe.

Biometrics consists of authenticating or identifying people by their physical characteristics including fingerprints, face, iris and veins. When asked about the applications of biometrics, the French were most enthusiastic about adopting this technology to identify criminals, with 89 per cent supporting the use of biometrics for this purpose compared to 80pc in Britain and 77pc in Germany.

Almost seven in ten (69pc) of respondents across Europe agreed that they would support the use of biometrics in identity cards or passports, with 81pc of French citizens in favour of this application, compared to 73pc of Danish and 68pc of British respondents. The same percentage of respondents across Europe (69pc) were also in favour of using biometrics to enter secure areas, lead once again by the French at 77pc, followed by the Danes at 75pc and the British at 69pc.

However, when it comes to everyday applications of biometrics technology, only 45pc of citizens agreed they are in favour of the use of biometrics to replace PIN numbers for bank cards. Only 41pc of Germans were keen to use biometrics for this purpose, compared to 43pc of Norwegians and 44pc of Swedish citizens. The French are above the European average with 52pc in favour.

Citizens were also divided in their opinions around the benefits of biometrics ID/passports applications. Around half of respondents (54pc) said security against identify theft is the most important reason for using biometric ID or passports, while 12% think reducing crime was more important. Only 4pc feels that simplifying administrative procedures is the most important application for biometrics technology.

Steria adds that it has delivered biometrics to customers in 27 countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Belgium and France. Earlier this year, Steria was selected by the Danish Police for an eight-year biometrics fingerprint identification programme and, alongside the European Commission, recently announced the deployment of a state-of-the-art second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) which uses biometrics data to help streamline border control processes and transform the way Schengen States share information.

Ole Marius Steinkjer, Business Developer at Steria’s Centre of Excellence, Biometrics, says: “Biometric technology is increasingly used to support a diverse range of tasks. Within the security market, it is typically used to process asylum applications and to provide smooth flow of cross-border traffic, or to identify criminal identities and control access to military facilities. Other markets are also adopting it where it is used, to protect health records and even bank accounts. However, many citizens are still wary of adopting this technology in their everyday lives due to concerns around privacy.

“Despite these concerns, it is becoming increasingly common for organisations to use biometrics for effective identification and authentication – for example, airlines, gyms and self-service convenience stores aiming to increase their efficiency, or pharmacies using it to secure their medicine stocks. It is absolutely vital that organisations fully understand the consumer benefits and position them correctly to encourage mainstream adoption of biometrics applications.”

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