Privacy in Biometrics - Essay Example

?Running Head: Privacy in Biometrics Privacy in Biometrics [Institute’s PRIVACY IN BIOMETRICS Introduction Throughout the history, humans have endeavored to propose different solutions to identify individuals from one another, and it has been an observation that every solution brought different challenges and issues with it resulting in introduction of a new form of biometrics globally. For instance, the history goes back to 1888 in which a French expert Alphonse Bertillon “Anthropometrics” who used fingerprints to distinguish between criminals and innocent public. However, after a century, technology of biometrics is still evolving and has become more complex to ensure greater security to the users. Although there are various advantages of using biometrics technology, such as its validity and authenticity and its wide-ranging utilization in passports, identity cards, attendance systems, etc. In the field of information technology, biometrics refers to “those technologies that measure and analyze human characteristics such as DNA, eye retina, irises, fingerprints, voice pattern, facial pattern and hand measurements” (Rouse, 2008). In this paper, the focus will remain on the use of fingerprints as the major characteristics for identifying a person. More importantly, the paper will include discussion and arguments regarding some of the issues that arise due to usage of biometrics publicly (Woodward, 2003, pp. 23-25). Although biometrics has resulted in number of benefits to the organizations in terms of identity management, however, the advancement of this technology and the application of this technology on public level have raised various questions regarding the accuracy of this technology along with privacy and confidentiality of the data that has been one of the major issues related to biometrics. Expansion in the utilization of internet has been one of the foremost reasons that have resulted in greater utilization of biometrics in various parts of the world. Nowadays, biometrics has become one of the most suitable and affordable solution for organizations to identify their employees for identification purpose at entry and exit locations, as well as during attendance on daily basis. At the same time, biometrics has also helped e-commerce industry to progress by ensuring security of data in finance-related organizations such as banks, shopping centers, etc that now use biometrics technology (Zhang, 2006, pp. 31-38) to prevent any fraudulent actions that usually occur in absence of such technologies. One of the basic reasons of huge popularity of biometrics technology has been its use by the law enforcement agencies around the world that has resulted in its usage on mass level. While this utilization became the reason of its popularity, it has resulted in initiation of debates regarding the confidentiality and security of the data; in other words, data and information management by the law enforcement agencies and various governments globally (Ex-sight, n.d.). Discussion As mentioned earlier in the paper, biometrics while providing enormous number of advantages in terms of identification and verification of individuals in terms of their characteristics, it has resulted in various ethical, social, and professional issues that have been the major focus of this paper. Most importantly, personal privacy is the foremost issue that has remained under debate related to biometrics for a long time. Analysis of literature (Campisi, 2013, pp. 11-17) has indicated that although biometrics technology allows organizations and law enforcement agencies to identify an individual and trace a criminal out of the huge population, it is a direct failure to comply with human rights regulations for privacy and anonymity. At various platforms, there have been protests regarding the inappropriate usage of biometric data by law enforcement agencies, which results in an adverse impact on right of freedom of the public. Besides breach of personal privacy, biometrics technology is not a perfect one and may offer contradictory results that can be troublesome and even life threatening for some individuals, as failed results may block someone’s identity information for some period, may send someone to the lockup or even put someone’s whole life at risk until legal intervention. In this regard, this technical issue has initiated a social debate regarding the social impact of biometrics technology on public (Mordini, 2012, pp. 25-29). However, despite such issues, the 9/11 attacks, illegal immigration, and subsequently, War on Terror have inclined administrators to ensure continuation of biometrics technology by all law enforcement agencies, airport securities, and financial securities. In addition to professional issue, biometrics technology has been under scrutiny during debates on fundamental rights where there has been deliberation on its legality. Specifically, public on mass political level does not deny the effectiveness and usefulness of biometrics technology but at the same time, there has been arguments regarding its status as a personal data rather than public data because it directly undermines freedom of the citizens. In other words, public status of biometric data enables the government and law enforcement agencies to use the data to trace down location of any individual, which once again challenges the notion of personal privacy that is an imperative notion, especially in developed countries. Moreover, analysis (Campisi, 2013, pp. 59-67) has identified several other ethical issues related to biometrics technology, such as confidentiality, anonymity, proportionality, and individual consent. Particularly, individual consent refers to the argument that biometric data should be in custody of the government; however, only the person himself/herself can allow utilization of the data in presence of significant evidence indicating its essential need. Moreover, there has been debate regarding updating of the biometrics data because there have been cases where biometric characteristics of individuals have changed resulting in false or inaccurate results questioning the validity and accuracy of the technology. Furthermore, another social and ethical issue related to the use of biometrics technology is social exclusion that is in consideration to disabled people who often cannot provide their fingerprints and cannot fulfill other biometric requirements due to their disabilities. As the result, this causes a social and ethical issue resulting in exclusion of disabled community, which raises questions regarding equity of the technology’s use (Mordini, 2012, pp. 44-70). In addition, scrutiny of the data has identified literature that has focused primarily on the probable side effects of the technology, which is not evidently proven but poses serious concerns to the academicians. In this regard, one should not rely completely and over-confidently on the technology alone that may cause medical dilemma in the future, thus, this also needs to come under debate and discussion, and must become part of future legislation related to citizens’ well-being and privacy. From the above discussion, it is evident that biometric technology is useful but it needs serious consideration in terms of its different aspects that are resulting in ethical and social issues. Analysis (Campisi, 2013, pp. 48-62) has resulted in various questions related to the issue of privacy in biometrics. In terms of confidentiality, one imperative question that comes in mind is regarding the authority of citizens to limit or decline usage of biometric data whether they have such a right or not to refuse the usage. In addition, research has not shown any list of organization and/or criteria that make an organization eligible to use the biometric data. In this regard, although outcomes of biometric technology are very efficient but one needs to consider the efficacy and accuracy of the process as well that could result in various other ethical, professional, and social concerns. It has been an observation that there is no specific purpose mentioned for the utilization of biometric data. It seems like governments and law enforcement agencies carry out their identification and investigation processes involving biometric technology just on the notion of War on Terror, and there has been no specification regarding original purpose of usage of this technology, which poses thoughtful concerns regarding security or exploitation of the public. Another concern related to complete dependency on biometrics technology especially at security checkpoints, airports, etc raises questions regarding presence of any alternative backups that may function in absence of biometric systems. One of the reasons of this aspect of issue is due to the fact that at some times, the data becomes readable due to various factors, such as age, health, disability, etc and this lack of readability causes problems for the users, which should not be the case. From health perspective, this can surely become a social issue especially during the flu and cold seasons because it may become very unhealthy for the users to put their fingers on the scanner as it may result in a viral infection. Although there have not been any instances related to denial of using biometric technology due to unhygienic conditions, still, this can be one of the major reasons for initiating social issue. In the USA and various other developed countries, freedom of the citizens acts as a significant indicator for ensuring autonomy and anonymity of the individuals on the state level. For instance, citizens cast their votes secretly with the help of biometric technologies to indicate their preference and interest in a provincial or national decision; however, points discussed above undermine this freedom of the government that is the foremost obligation of the federal and provincial governments (Mordini, 2012, pp. 79-86). In addition, there have also been instances in which individuals felt serious discomfort while using biometric systems that once again results in questions regarding acceptability of biometric technology as the major tool for identification purpose. Although in light of terrorism in recent years, one can understand that government and law enforcement agencies may override the freedom and authority of citizens to protect the country, however, this understanding does not end the ethical and social concerns that will remain intact until they are resolved. Experts (Mordini, 2012, pp. 36-45) have indicated that at this point of conflict, citizens will have to compare their personal need and freedom with that of society and country. This comparison will surely resolve a number of ethical reasons that are focusing on the outcomes of the biometrics technology while the discomfort with technology’s process will remain intact. From a Utilitarian’s perspective, this comparison will resolve the concern as the discomfort will result in benefit and wellbeing of many more in the population. Furthermore, examination of the case studies has indicated that although biometric technology has become very popular; however, this technology has brought in the stigma of terrorism and crime with it in the society. The technology might not cause any crimes but the users may feel that they are under suspicion of doing any crime or anything against the law of the organization and/or country, which is evidently an ethical issue (Strandburg, 2006, pp. 20-28). Although this stigma is not very common but still does exist in the society, particularly when it comes to mandatory biometric screening, such as at government buildings, airports, law enforcement agencies, etc. In this regard, little awareness regarding the purpose and confidentiality of the whole process can play a significant role in resolving this ethical and social issue related to privacy in biometrics. Moreover, one of the other reasons of this stigmatization of biometrics technology is due to usage of biometrics data for additional purposes that are usually not mentioned to the public that causes a kind of ‘functional creep’ (Strandburg, 2006, pp. 31-34) related to the intention of agencies and organizations that make use of this technology for different purposes. Research has shown that one cannot avoid functional creep at any cost and it will remain to exist in the future as well despite strict regulations, hence, it is imperative that government carries out particular steps to provide awareness to the citizens to inform them about their rights during such a process. Such awareness programs will really be helpful in portraying a good image of the government and law enforcement agencies that are often portrayed as invisible gatekeepers that are always tracking citizens in the name of national security. Conclusion Conclusively, the paper included discussion on some of the significant aspects of biometrics technology, especially from the perspective of privacy of its users. The paper has identified and analyzed different studies related to the topic; however, it is anticipation that future researches in this regard will enable a wide-ranging and updated understanding of various ethical and social issues that exist in presence of this technology. It is an expectation that the paper will be beneficial for students and professionals in better understanding of the topic. References Campisi, Patrizio. 2013. Security and Privacy in Biometrics. New York: Springer. Ex-Sight. n.d. What is “Biometrics” and what kind of convenience and security can it offer us? Retrieved on December 10, 2013: http://www.ex-sight.com/biometric.htm Mordini, E. 2012. Second Generation Biometrics: The Ethical, Legal and Social Context. New York: Springer. Rouse, M. 2008. What is Biometrics. Retrieved on December 10, 2013: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/biometrics Strandburg, Katherine J. 2006. Privacy and Technologies of Identity. New York: Springer. Woodward, J. D. 2003. Biometrics. San Francisco: McGraw-Hill Professional. Zhang, D. 2006. Advances in Biometrics. Hamburg: Birkhauser. Read More