Biometrics Institute celebrates 20-year anniversary
Promoting the responsible and ethical use of biometrics
11 October 2021: The Biometrics Institute, the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties, today celebrates its 20-year anniversary.
Established in 2001 to promote the responsible use of biometrics, the Institute’s mission has remained unchanged since its foundation, and this has become a widely accepted term. It’s founding members include the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Australian Taxation Office, and the Australian Federal Police.
The Institute currently has over 220 membership organisations from 34 countries and enjoys support from banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics, United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institutions.
“We are very excited to mark the 20-year anniversary of the Biometrics Institute. This has provided us with the opportunity to showcase how Biometrics Institute Members have recognised the challenges and worked towards good practices to ensure responsible and ethical implementation”, said Isabelle Moeller, Chief Executive, Biometrics Institute.
The Institute’s Founder, Ted Dunstone added: “We are only at the beginning of the significant transformation that our industry is going to see. There is a lot more work to be done especially in those areas where biometrics are unregulated. As biometric technology development and adoption continues to move at high-speed, the Institute has created a strong basis for its community to address challenges for privacy and policy in a timely manner. We will continue to raise the bar and bring together diverse stakeholders to have a balanced discussion about what good biometrics use should look like.”
The Institute is celebrating its membership and impact with a special 20-year anniversary report to be launched at its Biometrics Institute Congress on the 13 October highlighting how biometrics have made a positive contribution to our world in the areas of privacy and policy; technology innovation; research and development; applications and case studies.
With over 30 success stories including 10 submissions on borders, 5 of which are from government, these address border management, biometrics use in schools and financial institutions, refugee management, disaster victim identification after the Tsunami, biometrics in e-passports and privacy, and in managing digital identities.
About the Report
More information about the 20-year Anniversary Report will be made available on the 13 October 2021.
The report will be available to members and the public on the Institute’s website here.
Those wishing to join the remaining three days of the Congress can register now and receive the recording of the first day’s sessions.
ENDS.
Notes to editors:
The Biometrics Institute is the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties. It was established in 2001 to promote the responsible and ethical use of biometrics and has offices in London and Sydney.
The member register which represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community now lists 220 membership organisations from 34 countries. It includes banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics and 10 Observers representing United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institutions.
The Biometrics Institute connects the global biometrics community. It shares knowledge with its members and key stakeholders and most importantly, develops good-practices and thought leadership for the responsible and ethical use of biometrics.
For more information, please email Christine Bowles: press@biometricsinstitute.org.
