The Biometrics Institute has released a new podcast with viewpoints from members from the US Department of Homeland Security, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the technology supplier SITA on its 2020 State of Biometrics Report.

The State of Biometrics Report looked at five key developments – COVID-19, legislative controls, demographic differentials, awareness and public perceptions and digital identity – and detailed how the issues may impact the industry in the next 12 months. In the podcast, the Biometrics Institute members discussing their work in relation to these topics are:

• Paul Cross – a Biometrics Institute director and head of border management for SITA’s Sydney Practice
• Lisa MacDonald – the director of the Identity Capabilities Management Division in the Office of Biometric Identity Management at the US Department of Homeland Security
• Steven Wright – Principal Policy Adviser at the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Participants discussed:

• The increased interest in contactless modalities that can be easily collected at a distance, which now present opportunities for industry, commerce and government
• If organisations can’t explain how their biometric system works and they don’t know their algorithm, how can they explain that to the general public?
• How knowing your algorithm is not a one-time event, it’s not speed dating – it’s a long-term relationship
• Decisions have real-life implications
• Privacy and security can and must coexist
• Linking physical and digital identity

Participants also look to the future and discuss what is on the horizon for the biometrics industry, which includes the importance of the informed consumer who knows enough to ask good questions about how their biometric data is being used, like who will it be shared with, how it will be protected and how long will it be kept.

Isabelle Moeller, chief executive of the Biometrics Institute says, ‘This episode of our podcast is really thought-provoking, looking back at some of the events of the last year, how they have shaped the present and will impact the future. It’s a great introduction to the work our members do all around the world.’

The podcast is available here.

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 use of biometrics and has offices in London and Sydney.

With more than a thousand members from 240 membership organisations spread across 30 countries, it represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community. This includes banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers and academics.

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 Claire Fox Baron: clairefb@biometricsinstitute.org