Ethics and Policy of Biometrics

This chapter describes the ethical and privacy implications concerning biometric technology and two emerging issues related to biometrics, function creep and informatization of the body, are discussed.

Abstract

This chapter describes the ethical and privacy implications concerning biometric technology. Two emerging issues related to biometrics, function creep and informatization of the body, are discussed. Because function creep results from the over-generation of data, the argument is made that, by design, biometric applications are unlikely to cease the collection and processing of surplus amounts of personal data. Concerning informatization of the body, biometrics can be seen in both a positive and a negative light. When biometric technology is used to give a personal identity to a previously unidentified person, an increased sense of personal empowerment through the attainment of identity is witnessed. However, when biometrics is instead used to offer an identity to individuals solely for the purpose of categorization, we can then consider this to be an unwelcome risk of this technology. Thus, care must be taken in the application of biometric technology.