Biometrics discrimination

How does biometrics affect society?
Convenience, improved security, and fraud reduction are some of the benefits often associated with the use of biometrics.
Those benefits may flow to particular individuals, corporations, and societies but are sometimes realized only at the expense of others..
Is biometrics biased?
There are a wide range of factors that can make a biometric algorithm biased.
For example, a user's age has proven to be a big factor for fingerprint authentication methods, likely due to factors that become more obvious with age such as chemical exposure or manual labor..
What are the social issues of biometrics?
The key social issue surrounding biometrics is the seemingly irrevocable link between biometric traits and a persistent information record about a person.
Unlike most other forms of recognition, biometric techniques are firmly tied to our physical bodies..
What is bias in biometrics?
Biometric bias and inequality is caused by a lack of diverse demographic data, bugs, and inconsistencies in the algorithms.
For example, if the training data primarily includes information related to just one demographic, the learning models will disproportionately focus on the characteristics of that demographic..
Why are some biometrics controversial?
Large databases of biometric information could also be attractive targets for malicious actors who could misuse such information.
Additionally, some technologies using biometric information, such as facial recognition technology, may have higher rates of error for certain populations than for others..
Privacy and confidentiality are also issues with deep ethical implications.
If privacy means having control over how and when we are represented to others, then biometrics that uniquely identifies us might easily be encroaching on our fundamental privacy.
“Biometric data collection poses serious risks of privacy invasion and discrimination, and Americans know they should not have to forgo personal privacy for safety.
As we work to make our country more equitable, we cannot ignore the technologies that stand in the way of progress and perpetuate injustice.”

Another key source of racial discrimination in face recognition lies in its utilization. In 18th century New York, “lantern laws” required

The misuse and abuse of biometric technologies results in profiling and categorising people based on age, gender, and skin colour. In other words, biometric technologies can be used in fundamentally discriminatory ways that continue to disadvantage those who have been historically excluded.

How can biometric information technology be used to identify consumers?

For example, using biometric information technologies to identify consumers in certain locations could reveal sensitive personal information about them such as:

whether they accessed particular types of healthcare

attended religious services

or attended political or union meetings.

Is biometric information a violation of the FTC Act?

The policy statement also notes that it will consider several factors in determining whether a business’s use of biometric information or biometric information technology could be unfair in violation of the FTC Act including:

Failing to assess foreseeable harms to consumers before collecting biometric information; .

Biometrics discrimination

How does biometrics affect society?

Is biometrics biased?

What are the social issues of biometrics?

What is bias in biometrics?

Why are some biometrics controversial?

How can biometric information technology be used to identify consumers?

Is biometric information a violation of the FTC Act?