********** Background: http://www.politechbot.com/p-01696.html http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=biometric Biometric-enabled laptop: http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/computing/02/02/biometric.security.idg Time magazine on "Welcome to the Snooper Bowl": http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,98003,00.html National Basketball Association vows no face-recog at All-Star Game: http://www.nypost.com/technology/23123.htm AP article on Utah officials considering face-recog for 2002 Olympics: http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/2001/02/03/sports/OLY03.htm ********** http://www.ibia.org/pressrelease19.htm Biometrics and Privacy: Industry Policy on Crowd Surveillance February 2, 2001, Washington, D.C. --- During last months Super Bowl game in Tampa, Florida, local officials conducted a trial that used software technology and video surveillance systems to compare fans entering the stadium against a database of suspected criminals and terrorists. In view of these events, IBIA and its member companies believe it is appropriate to reiterate industry policy on the use of biometrics by government agencies, and to offer guidance to any entities that are considering the use of biometrics in public places. On March 24, 1999, IBIA adopted Privacy Principles that were intended to encourage biometric manufacturers, integrators and end users to ensure that biometric data cannot be misused. In announcing the principles, Bill Wilson, Chairman of IBIA, said we are acutely conscious of the need to protect personal information in any biometric application. The industry is taking this step to promote self-regulation in the private sector, encourage clarity and transparency for users, and provide guidance on matters that may require legislative action in the public sector. The first IBIA Privacy Principle calls for safeguards that ensure biometric data is not misused to compromise any information, or released without personal consent or the authority of law. Concerning the use of biometrics in the public sector, IBIA recommends in the third Privacy Principle that clear legal standards should be developed to carefully define and limit the conditions under which agencies of national security and law enforcement may acquire, access, store, and use biometric data. The full text of the IBIA Privacy Principles is available online at http://www.ibia.org/privacy.htm. IBIA members implement these principles by urging users to follow three practical steps, says Richard E. Norton, Executive Director of IBIA. Our companies recommend that clear signage or other means of notification be used to inform everyone that video imaging and facial recognition technology are being used in any public area. They also advise users that the images should be used only to make comparisons against known violators, and in no circumstance should nonmatching images be retained in a database once the comparison has been conducted. Finally, they remind users that all applications of biometric technology must comply with existing law governing the storage and use of data by public agencies, adds Norton. IBIA was formed in September 1998 and has 27 member companies, and is open to all biometric manufacturers, integrators, and end-users who agree to abide by the IBIA Statement of Principles and Code of Ethics. Biometric technology involves the automatic identification or identity verification of an individual based on physiological or behavioral characteristics. Such authentication is accomplished by using computer technology in a noninvasive way to match patterns of live individuals in real time against enrolled records. Examples include products that use face, iris, hand, fingerprint, signature and voice measurements in environments such as border control, information security, physical access control, financial transactions, time and attendance, law enforcement, and other civil and government applications. For further information please contact Mr. Norton, at phone (703) 250-0206. ********** http://www.ibia.org/privacy.htm IBIA Privacy Principles 1. Biometric data is electronic code that is separate and distinct from personal information, and provides an effective, secure barrier against unauthorized access to personal information. Beyond this inherent protection, IBIA recommends safeguards to ensure that biometric data is not misused to compromise any information, or released without personal consent or the authority of law. 2. In the private sector, IBIA advocates the development of policies that clearly set forth how biometric data will be collected, stored, accessed, and used, and that preserve the rights of individuals to limit the distribution of the data beyond the stated purposes. 3. In the public sector, IBIA believes that clear legal standards should be developed to carefully define and limit the conditions under which agencies of national security and law enforcement may acquire, access, store, and use biometric data. 4. In both the public and private sectors, IBIA advocates the adoption of appropriate managerial and technical controls to protect the confidentiality and integrity of databases containing biometric data. **********