Biometric Technology: Issues & Concerns

There are concerns surrounding biometric technology just as there are with many interesting new technologies. The biggest concern is stolen or compromised biometrics. Keys and locks can be changed, fingerprints cannot. So what do you do when an individual's fingerprint has been compromised. That question remains unresolved?

Identity Theft & Privacy Issues

Biometric technology has been hailed as a way to reduce identity theft but ironically some argue that there are unresolved issues. They argue that if an individual's biometric data is stolen, an unauthorized individual could do irreversible damage with access to financial accounts.

Others say this argument is nonsense. There are safeguards built-in to biometric technology. Biometric security technology is based on matching a "live" biometric sample to a database of stored biometric samples. Most commercial biometric systems use hash codes or encryption to effectively prevent the stored image from being hacked. This leaves only the "live" biometric as a possible issue but most systems also use anti-hacking routines. Due to the inherent plasticity of biometrics they are virtually never identical from one scan to the next. So ironically if a thief were to have a perfect photo of someone's fingerprint, it may work once but it will be easily detected and rejected the second time because the match is too perfect.

Biometric Technology in Schools

The use of biometrics in schools has become prevalent as of the early 2000's especially in the US and the UK. Proponents justify the use of biometrics as a means to combat truancy and replace library or meal cards with fingerprint systems. Detractors raise privacy concerns arguing the government is creating a database that will eventually include anyone who attend school which is the vast majority of the population.

Sociological Concerns about Biometric Technology

As biometric technology advances and becomes more acceptable, an increasing number of companies will turn to biometrics as a way to safely and accurately identify customers. Several concerns have already been raised about biometrics including:

Physical concerns: Some argue that biometric scanners can cause physical damage. In particular retinal scanners that scan the eyes have come under fire. But it's been argued that cell phones can be hazardous to ones' health too and has that argument ever been proven to have any merit?

Personal Information: Just as with social security numbers, some are concerned that personal information in the databases of biometric systems can be stolen, misused, or tampered with. For example someone with access may sell the data to a criminal who will then use it to commit crimes.

Danger to Owners of Items Secured with Biometric Technology

There is always the possibility (and in fact there are documented cases) that criminals will stalk and attack the property owner to gain unauthorized access. The injuries to the owner can be life-threatening or otherwise cause permanent injury and cause more damage than the value of the property. Car thieves in Malaysia chopped off the finger of the owner of a Mercedes-Benz in order to bypass the biometric security system. It may be fiction, but in the Da Vinci Code, a scientist was murdered and his eye cut out in order to gain access through a security system that used a retinal scan.

Regardless of whether these concerns are legitimate or not, biometric technology is here to stay. Look around you. It's already being used and it's only going to become more prevalent in the coming years.