The purpose of this study was to describe the current deployment of biometric technologies and investigate common place practices. With the increasing use of biometrics in the work place and consumer service arena, the amount of personal biometric data generated each day continues to rise. The focus was to determine what the average enrollee knows about the privacy and security of his or her biometric data and how that data was being protected. To make the determinations, a survey was generated and the results are shown.

1. POLICY AND PRIVACY/DISCLOSURE FOR BIOMETRIC SYSTEMS
The purpose of this study was to describe the current deployment of biometric technologies and investigate common place practices. With the
increasing use of biometrics in the work place and consumer service arena, the amount of personal biometric data generated each day continues to
rise. The focus was to determine what the average enrollee knows about the privacy and security of his or her biometric data and how that data
was being protected. To make the determinations, a survey was generated and the results are shown.
Ramsey Ayers, Janis Vanderpool, Kevin O’Connor, Stephen Elliott
OVERVIEW
FUTURE OF BIOMETRICS AND PERSONAL DATACONCLUSIONS
After receiving our survey results, it appears that although many businesses and institutions
do have a formal policy outlining the use and storage of an individual’s biometric data, many
do not have procedures in place that will allow for the individual to review or correct their
own biometric record. Personal opinions vary as to the use, privacy and security afforded
by biometric identification systems. It should be noted that these results showed 8
respondents of 104 had used a biometric system as a consumer, while 6 participated as an
employee. The number of respondents currently using biometric systems was low, but is
expected to increase as the technologies continue to develop and be implemented.
The use and storage of personal data in automated systems is not a new idea. The U.S.
Department of Health, Education and Welfare released it’s Code of Fair Information
Practices in 1972 and while it may have applied to a different type of media, the principles
can and should be applied to the increasing use of biometric data today and in the future.
The five principles include providing notice when personal data is kept, allowing access to
what data is stored and how it is used, allowing the individual to consent (or not) when data
is used for other than its initial purpose, allowing the individual to correct or amend their
records, and providing adequate means of safeguarding the data.
BIOMETRIC KNOWLEDGE CONSUMER DEPLOYMENTS EMPLOYER DEPLOYMENTS