Biometric Governance
Ensuring Responsible Use of Biometric Systems
What is Biometric Governance?
Biometric identification uses unique biological traits to verify identity.
- Ensuring security, privacy, and compliance
- Managing risks like identity fraud and unauthorized access
- Aligning with laws, industry standards, and ethical norms
How Biometric Systems Work
- Enrollment: Capturing and storing biometric data
- Verification: 1:1 comparison to confirm identity
- Identification: 1:N comparison to find matches
- Feature Extraction and Matching
Comparison of Biometric Modalities
| Modality | Typical Uses | Accuracy | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint | Phone unlock, security access | High (FAR ~1 in 100,000) | Vulnerable to spoofing, requires clean sensor |
| Facial | Surveillance, authentication | Medium (prone to lighting changes) | Privacy concerns, bias issues |
| Iris | High-security, airports | Very High (FAR ~1 in 1,000,000) | Requires specialized hardware |
Biometric Accuracy & Error Rates
graph LR;
A[Hard edge]-->|Link text|B(Round edge);
B-->C{Decision};
C-->|One|D[Result one];
C-->|Two|E[Result two];
Security Threats and Defenses
Attack Methods
- Spoofing (fake fingerprints, 3D masks)
- Replay attacks
- Database breaches
Defenses
- Liveness detection
- Secure encryption
- Multi-factor authentication
Case Study: Aadhaar Biometric ID
- World’s largest biometric system (1.3B people)
- Governance issues: data security, privacy challenges
- Inclusion concerns: fingerprint failures led to denial of services
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
Q1: Which of the following is NOT a biometric identifier?
- A. Fingerprint
- B. Iris
- C. Password
- D. Voice print
Answer: C (Password is not a biometric)
Conclusion
Strong biometric governance balances security, privacy, and compliance.
Proper safeguards, legal adherence, and public trust are key.
Copy of Copy of UNHCR and MOSIP
By Ted Dunstone
