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The Eyes Don't Have It
Biometrics have been heralded as the ultimate security solution but they’re not yet perfected.
by Fatima Khan
The biometric debate is a hot and complex one. At one end of the spectrum lie the technology industry and the government, who tout the value of biometrics in enhancing public safety. At the other end, civil libertarians worry about privacy issues. Then there are the scientists and security companies — throw in the information technology specialists and it’s hard to discern who’s churning out validated information versus propaganda.
While definitely on the cutting edge of technology, the use of biometrics in airport security is limited by issues regarding reliability and confidentiality, and the potential for error and abuse.
Simply put, biometrics is the process of identifying people through their unique biological factors: hand geometry, fingerprints, retina or iris, body odor, DNA, blood type, ear morphology, voice recognition, and face geometry. Machines that employ biometric identifiers try to compare the information scanned in real time against an “authentic” sample stored digitally in a “secure” database.
Biometrics isn’t new. However, its application in today’s post 9-11 travel industry is taking off. European travelers will soon be able to have facial and fingerprint data embedded on a computer chip in new biometric passports. The U.S. now mandates that inkless fingerprints be used in U.S. visas. Facial recognition technology is being tested at U.S. borders while the Transportation Security Agency’s (TSA) Registered Traveler program uses biometrics and smart cards.
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June 2005