Biometric registration is used for uniquely identifying and recognizing individuals based on certain physiological and behavioral traits like fingerprint, DNA, face recognition, iris recognition, gait, voice et al. These methods can be used for secure entry into buildings, and access to computers, phones and banks.
Biometric registration involves four main stages: enrolment or registration, storage, acquisition, and matching. The registration stage involves collecting biometric data, processing it, and finally storing it. The registration stage is crucial, as the efficiency and accuracy of this system depends on accurate input of data. Storage of data can be in the form of a centralized database, or in individual ID cards provided by companies. The acquisition stage involves the scanning of a new sample or data, which is then sent to the database for matching. Finally, the new entry is matched with the data stored for identification or verification.
Applications of Biometric registration
The types of application for biometric registration are for verification, identification or screening purposes. Verification can be used to confirm the identity of a person from the data stored in a centralized database or in a memory device such as a smart card or a chip allotted to an individual. Identification is generally used when the identity of the person is unknown. The new biometric sample is compared with all the entries present in the centralized database to find a possible match. A screening process is used to identify only certain people listed for security purposes, whereas the rest are allowed to pass without a match.
As biometric identification is a statistical process, a complete (100%) match is never possible due to bodily changes that might occur between the time of enrolment and acquisition. Thus depending on the requirements of the application, the probability or percentage of a successful match can be adjusted. Also, there is a possibility of a false match or false reject in such cases, which can vary from in different biometrics.
Biometric registration is used for law enforcement purposes, at airports or borders to identify or screen criminals, in companies to allow physical access to employees inside the premises, and for convenience in high-tech homes or recreational purposes in private organizations.
Several countries are working on applying biometric registration for integration into their security systems. These include the Unites States, Germany, Brazil, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Israel, Iraq and India. Their initial plan is to use these parameters in visas and passports to identify and screen individuals for immigration and border-protection purposes.
Concerns regarding Biometric Registration
Biometric registration has several direct and indirect medical implications as well as safety and privacy issues. Direct medical implications include certain risks, such as the use of infrared light used in retinal scanning. Other concerns involve ethical and safety of stored data and access of sensitive information to unauthorized personnel. Some people also find these identification methods as being intrusive and impersonal.
Though adequate privacy protection systems are installed to ensure that the stored information is protected, there are still concerns regarding the use of biometrics to identify an individual. The main objection stems from the fear that the biometric data may be tracked and misused for purposes other than initially intended.
