Biometrics

Biometrics discussions

by Mark Rowe

The Biometrics Institute says that it will discuss the increase in consumer biometric applications with members and interested parties such as the Information Commissioner’s Office, as it says awareness is required about responsible use of biometrics.

The institute says that the recently reported introduction by Tesco of facial detection (not recognition) systems at its petrol forecourts is another example of the public getting exposed to new technology without fully understanding what is happening. But who is asking the consumers what they really want?

Isabelle Moeller, Chief Executive of the Biometrics Institute, says: “While Tesco is saying that currently images, pictures or personal data of customers are not being recorded or captured, there is a very small step from detection and categorisation to recognition. The main concern is that personal data could be collected without prior consent of the individual. The key privacy principle that must be observed is the principle of informed customer consent. ”

The institute makes the point that there appears to be no mention of warnings to people who are scanned, no indication of the purpose for which that scanning is used or about how it is used in the future. If that is the case, then the people being scanned have not been giving their informed consent, a principle written into virtually all countries’ legislation and directives.

She says: “All privacy legislation around the world usually insist that customers are entitled to know that they are being scanned and for what purpose and they should also be given the opportunity to refuse if they have objections. The other key principle of privacy is function creep which is where a system is installed for one purpose but then allowed to creep into other uses. For example, if a face is scanned for the purposes of identifying a customer’s gender at the time they are looking at an advert above the check out, they should know to what purpose that scan will be put in the future.”

A Biometrics Institute Industry Survey 2013 is predicting the adoption of biometrics in everyday life as the next major development for the biometrics industry. This includes use of biometrics on mobile phones, financial transactions or physical access control to a car or building. Is the industry talking up the idea of consumers wanting biometrics for increased convenience and security? Does the consumer understand how biometrics should be captured and stored and what their right to privacy is? the institute asks. Where are biometrics actually are fit for purpose and what happens to the biometric information? Who looks after it and at what point in time is it destroyed? After a person leaves a shop, school or a particular job? In other words, who manages the system and what do they do with that system and a person’s biometric over time? And just how much does the client, let’s say a school or the parents in that school, really understand about biometrics and, especially, privacy?

The Biometrics Institute is holding events such as the “Technology Showcase Australia ” on November 26, 2013 in Canberra including several talks on facial biometrics and “New developments in facial biometrics ” on January 21, 2014 in London.

The Biometrics Institute forum has offices in Australia and the UK. Pictured, a recent institute event in London.

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