Subcommittees Discuss Biometric Technologies
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Research and Technology held a joint hearing titled, “The Current and Future Applications of Biometric Technologies.” Testifying before the Subcommittees were Dr. Charles H. Romine, Director of the Information Technology Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Mr. John Mears, Board Member of the International Biometrics and Identification Association; and Dr. Stephanie Schuckers, Director of the Center for Identification Technology Research.
Biometrics is the use of technology to automate the recognition of an individual based on a person’s physical or behavioral characteristics. Examples of physical characteristics include a person’s fingerprint, their iris, or facial features. Biometric technologies are used for a number of purposes ranging from granting access to a building to identifying a criminal or terrorist to preventing fraud in the distribution of public benefits. Biometric technologies are used for verification purposes and for identification purposes.
Witnesses testified on a number of issues, including the federal government’s activities concerning biometrics such as, the development of biometric standards and the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC); biometric testing and research activities; uses for biometrics technologies; and cutting-edge biometric technologies.
Democratic Members discussed the potential for advantages to be gained from the use of biometrics such as in combating fraud and waste and increasing security. They also expressed concerns about privacy and security issues that arise with the use of biometrics.
Ranking Member of the Research Subcommittee, Dan Lipinski (D-IL) said, “I believe the potential of biometric technologies to enhance our security is great and worth pursuing, but I also believe we need to make certain that there are appropriate safeguards in place so these technologies are not abused.”
He went on to discuss the use of biometrics for cybersecurity. He said, “I have been passionate about the need to secure cyberspace. I often comment on the fact that most people use a few passwords for all of their online activities from banking to streaming movies. We all know that using the same password is not what we should do, but we do it anyway because it is just easier. Unfortunately, that password can be forgotten, guessed or stolen. Biometric technologies hold the potential to significantly increase cybersecurity because it is much more difficult to steal someone’s fingerprint or a scan of their iris and you generally don’t forget your finger at home.”
Ranking Member of the Technology Subcommittee, Frederica Wilson (D-FL), said in her statement for the record, “Biometric technologies can offer a number of benefits. They can increase security here at home by identifying terrorists or they can provide those in the developing world with an ‘official identity’ that will allow them to open a bank account, buy a home, or receive public services. But there are also a number of privacy concerns surrounding biometrics. Facial recognition raises special concern because the nature of the technology allows it to be used without a person’s knowledge or consent. To be honest this offers an advantage from a security standpoint, but there is a fear that remote surveillance will happen on a much broader scale, not just in the airport, but that individuals will be “tracked” as they run their day to day errands.”
Related Content
Next Article Previous Article