Paper
SaveMe 
PowerPointPresentation.pptx1
Ethical Biometric Use
23 Feb 2020
Table of Contents
Introduction
Public Safety Agencies Using Biometrics and the Types Used
Techniques and Capabilities for Gathering Biometric Data
Ethical and Unethical Application of Biometric Data
Rules Affecting the Gathering and Use of Biometric Data
Conclusion
References
2
Introduction
The use of biometrics by public safety agencies in the United States provides both benefits and cause of ethical concerns. As public safety administrators integrate biometrics into their practices, care should be taken to understand the capabilities of technologies as well as their ethical use.
3
Public Safety Agencies Using Biometrics and the Types Used
Agencies
Law enforcement agencies
Rescue services
Criminal investigation agencies
Firefighting agencies
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
4
Public Safety Agencies Using Biometrics and the Types Used
Uses
Police use facial recognition, iris recognition and Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) among other biometric technologies to identify suspects accurately and quickly from millions of records (Purshouse & Campbell, 2019).
The biometric technology adopted in such public safety agencies is the use of DNA testing.
Criminal investigators use fingerprint matching processes to identify the fingerprint patterns of criminal.
Some of the biometric technologies used is AFIS and facial recognition for commanders to prove that the firefighter was actually present, should anything happen.
The TSA implemented detection technology to single out dangerous materials that passengers may be carrying in order to use them later to harm the public (Zhang, 2019). A biometric identification mechanisms was implemented to verify the passengers travelling to, from and within the country. Such technologies include iris scans, fingerprint scanning or a combination of both.
5
Techniques and Capabilities for Gathering Biometric Data
DNA Matching
Analysis of segments of DNA
Ear Geography
Shape of the ear
Eye Recognition
Iris – Features found around the iris
Retina – Patterns of veins in the back of the eye
Face Thermography
Facial features or patterns
Finger Recognition
Fingerprint – Ridges and valleys (Minutiae) on tips of fingers
Finger Geometry – 3D geometry of finger
Hand Geometry Recognition
Length of fingers
Width of hand
Vein Recognition
Vein patterns in finger or palm
6
Techniques and Capabilities for Gathering Biometric Data
Odor Recognition
Analysis of individuals odor
Typing and Mouse Recognition
Typing features – inter-stroke latency, time durations between keystrokes, dwell times
Mouse features – movement, drag and drop, stillness, point and click
Voice-Speaker Identification
Analysis of voice – pronunciation, pitch, tone, cadence
Gait
Individuals walking style
Signature Recognition
Analysis of handwriting style
Static
Visual Comparison between scanned signatures
Dynamic
Anatomic and behavioral characteristics when signing name – speed, acceleration, pressure, inclination
7
Techniques and Capabilities for Gathering Biometric Data
Unlike passwords, biometrics cannot be stolen
Performed by extracting biometric template
Compared against enrolled biometric templates two ways: Verification and Identification
Verification – One-to-one process where query is compared against user claiming ID
Identification – One-to-many process where query is compared against all enrolled biometric templates
More complex
Matching – reflects similarities between templates
Problems – false accept or reject
8
Ethical Application of Biometric Data
Policing efforts enhanced
Finding Missing Persons and/or human trafficking victims (West, 2019)
Helping police fight crime (Kaspersky, 2020)
Ensuring public safety in crowded areas (sporting events, casinos, and/or schools) (West, 2019)
Ethical and Unethical Application of Biometric Data
9
Healthcare profession
Data can help increase the security of healthcare information (Huston, 2013)
Airport Security (TSA) / Border Protection
Fake identification is easy to use, biometric data can help decrease the successful use of false ID
Wanted or known terrorists will be flagged in the system. Proper authorities will be alerted
Ethical and Unethical Application of Biometric Data
10
Unethical Application of Biometric Data
Confidentiality
Have biometric data systems been tested to ensure confidentiality is being upheld and information is not being sold to other agencies / companies?
Systems storing biometric data have become targets for hackers (Kaspersky, 2020)
Putting peoples biometric data into the hands of criminals
Privacy of the people
CCTV cameras help with real time facial recognition – collecting and storing on innocent people for public safety reasons (Kaspersky, 2020)
Bringing unintentional consequences for other freedoms afforded to the American people (Hayes, 2019)
Data being collected could be / is being misused not for its’ intended purposes by those with access to it (Cooper & Yon, 2019; De Hert, 2007)
Information being stored needs to be handled as sensitive personal information, if stolen the damage could be irreversible (Cooper & Yon, 2019)
Rules Affecting the Gathering and Use of Biometric Data
Current Rules
Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), Illinois
Element 1
Requires informed consent prior to collection
Element 2
Prohibits profiting from biometric data
Element 3
Permits on a limited right to disclose
Element 4
Mandates protection obligations and retention guidelines
Element 5
Creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violators of BIPA (Claypoole, 2016)
11
Rules Affecting the Gathering and Use of Biometric Data
Future Rules
Currently no implemented Federal Law
Companies need to comply with current BIPA laws
Two U.S. Senators introduced legislation to prevent facial recognition
Hawaiian Senator Brian Schatz and Missouri Senator Roy Blount
Six Flags Supreme Court Ruling in Illinois
Obtaining biometrics (fingerprints) in youths for season passes
Youths have right to sue
May set precedent for large companies using biometrics such as Facebook, Snapchat (Claypoole, 2016)
12
Conclusion
Administrators are better prepared to train and equip their agencies for the role biometrics will play in public safety by understanding the capabilities involved in their practice. Development of ethical policies specific to biometric use should be at the forefront of these leaders’ minds before application in an operational setting.
13
References
14
Biometrics Institute. (2020). Types of Biometrics. Retrieved February 21, 2020, from https://www.biometricsinstitute.org/what-is-biometrics/types-of-biometrics/
Buciu, I., & Gacsadi, A. (2016). Biometrics Systems and Technologies: A survey. International Journal of Computers, Communications & Control, 11(3), 315–330. Retrieved from https://doi org.ezproxy.umuc.edu/10.15837/ijccc.2016.3.2556
Claypoole, T. & Stoll, C. (2016). Developing Laws Addressing Flourishing Commercial Use of Biometric Information. Business Law Today. 1-5. Retrieved from https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=7585bf87-785e-4c47-8b4b- 761164d30ea5%40sdc-vsessmgr03&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=edsjsr.businesslawtoday.2016.05.09&db=edsjsr
Cooper, I. & Yon, J. (2019, September). Ethical Issues in Biometrics. Science Insights. 30(2), 63-69. doi: 10.15354/si.19.re095.
De Hert, P. (2007). Ethical Practice In The Use of Biometric Identifiers Within the EU. Law, Science and Policy. 3, 177-201. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228369691_Ethical_practice_in_the_use_of_biometric_identifiers_within_the_EU
Hayes, N. (2019, May 18). Ethics and biometric identity. Retrieved from https://www.securityinfowatch.com/access-identity/biometrics/article/21072152/ethics-and-biometric-identity
References
15
Huston, C. (2013, May). The Impact of Emerging Technology on Nursing Care: Warp Speed Ahead. 18(2). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carol_Huston/publication/237817586_The_impact_of_emerging_technology_on_nursing_care_Warp_speed_ahead/links/579a79a308ae024e100e4843/The-impact-of-emerging-technology-on-nursing-care-Warp-speed-ahead.pdf
Kaspersky. (2020). What is Biometrics? Retrieved from https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/biometrics
West, J.D. (2019, September 15). 21 AMAZING USES FOR FACE RECOGNITION – FACIAL RECOGNITION USE CASES. Retrieved from https://www.facefirst.com/blog/amazing-uses-for-face-recognition-facial-recognition-use-cases/
Purshouse, J., & Campbell, L. (2019). Privacy, Crime Control and Police Use of Automated Facial Recognition Technology. Criminal Law Review, 2019(3), 188-204.
Rose, J. A., & Lacher, D. C. (2016). Managing public safety technology: Deploying systems in police, courts, corrections, and fire organizations. Routledge.
Zhang, Z. (2019, October). Technologies Raise the Effectiveness of Airport Security Control. In 2019 IEEE 1st International Conference on Civil Aviation Safety and Information Technology (ICCASIT) (pp. 431-434). IEEE.
