|
Can Biometrics Save The World?
 In the 2002 science fiction movie, “The Minority Report,” Tom Cruise portrays a
cop who’s trying to prevent his own arrest for murder. The movie depicts a
futuristic society where the use of biometrics has run amuck. There, citizens’
retinas are scanned anywhere and everywhere: stores, streets, taxis, subways and
even their own bathtubs. In one unsettling scene, Cruise’s character is barraged
by interactive advertising billboards as he walks through a mall. His retina was scanned, his identity instantly uncovered, and a profile
quickly formed. The billboard tailored advertisements based on his unique
characteristics and background. In this brave new world, a citizen’s retina was
used as a bar code.
Think of how embarrassing this would be if it were used today — if technology
was used to pull up our credit reports or information on our buying behavior as
we entered a store. “Attention Mr. Jones, there’s a special on Preparation H in aisle 7.”
Biometrics is a general term for the measurement of human traits — such as
fingerprints, hand geometry, facial characteristics or voice recognition — for
the purpose of identifying or authenticating individuals. The biometrics
industry has seen explosive growth over the past few years, which is expected to
continue unabated over the next decade. As the technology becomes more accurate
and the underlying equipment (digital cameras, databases, computer processors
and telecommunications) to power it becomes cheaper, more creative applications
will be developed.
The technology is considered a boon to the security industry, which sees it
as a powerful tool for fighting more sophisticated and dangerous criminals,
thieves and terrorists. It can be used at the ATM for valid recognition of a cardholder; at retail
establishments for credit card verification; for Internet access and computer
log-in control; and for border security to keep Osama bin Laden’s henchmen out
of the country.
Yet with any fledgling technology comes the potential for misuse and abuse.
Critics say the identification techniques — especially facial recognition, which
is nonvoluntary in nature — erode privacy rights and elicit the specter of big
government tracking individuals’ actions, activities and transactions.
The technology raises questions about not only privacy of personal data, but
also privacy of personal behavior. Suppose you’re denied employment because of
the company you keep or the establishments you frequent? Would you march in a demonstration or support a certain political cause
knowing you can be identified by biometrics? Will this force people to walk in
public with Groucho Marx glasses and novelty noses?
Biometrics use depends on comparing data from a newly acquired measurement
against stored data. To establish a reference point, the technology requires
measuring, processing and storing data of an individual’s unique
characteristics. As the use of biometrics grows, so do the databases that amass
very personal information. Is this data, which can be stored locally or
centrally, safe from identity thieves? Can it be used and misused by the entity
who captured it for purposes we’re not yet aware of?
Biometrics must be used responsibly. Obviously, corporations will have to
show restraint not to abuse the information. And government will have to alleviate fears of a Big Brother conspiracy. The International Biometrics Industry Association promulgated a code in 2000
“to ensure that biometric data is not misused to compromise any information, or
released without personal consent or the authority of law.” Does that make
Americans feel any better?
Recent successes seems to indicate biometrics’ benefits outweigh the
potential dangers of misuse. Face scans are used by casinos to weed out cheats;
law enforcement can better track felons, sexual predators and drunk drivers;
drivers’ license bureaus are reducing ID forgers; and banks are effectively
separating clients from crooks.
Biometrics technology exists because the public generally supports it. The
question, both for citizens and governments, is how much information are they
comfortable sharing? Just food for thought. Enjoy the issue.
Regards,
Curt Blakeney
Editor
cblakeney@vpico.com
|