Commentary: Clearing 3 sources of confusion over biometrics key to assessing costs and benefits of its usage

  • 📰 TODAYonline
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 68 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 31%
  • Publisher: 99%

Technology Technology Headlines News

Technology Technology Latest News,Technology Technology Headlines

We've seen it happen with 5G, vaccination and nuclear power. And now, biometrics is becoming the next target of an increasingly biased public debate about new technology.

These implicit biases, which draw beliefs about emerging technology due to its full capabilities being unknown, go on to influence our perceptions of everything from smartphone apps to flight instruments used to pilot an aircraft.

Many technologies can be used for the wrong reasons. However, that does not mean we should not use them — it means we need to have an objective appreciation of their benefits and proceed with a decision accompanied by full knowledge of circumstantial facts and limitations. In fact, there's nothing inherently negative — or even particularly new — about recognising a person from their physical characteristics. Using thumbprints, fingerprints, iris, or other facial characteristics for identification has long been used by governments and institutions worldwide.

You would probably be much more concerned about someone hacking your smartphone's GPS records or discovering the user ID and password for your bank account, than you would about revealing the shape of your face — which is probably all over the internet anyway. With ongoing Personal Data Protection Act or General Data Protection Regulation regulations, the potential misuse or mishandling of this data can infringe upon an individual’s privacy rights, and concerns regarding how the data is stored, who has access to it and how is used must be addressed to build trust with the community.

There's a downside to cars or the internet or prescription drugs, but society chooses to limit the risks through a combination of regulation and technical improvements.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 1. in TECHNOLOGY

Technology Technology Latest News, Technology Technology Headlines