What are the ethical considerations in the collection and use of biometric data?
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Ethical Considerations in the Collection and Use of Biometric Data
Privacy and Data Protection in Biometric Data Collection
The collection and use of biometric data raise significant ethical concerns, primarily centered around privacy and data protection. Biometric data, which includes fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans, is inherently sensitive as it reveals unique personal characteristics. The European Convention on Human Rights emphasizes the need for stringent protection of such data to prevent violations of individual rights and freedoms1. The lack of transparency and lawful processing of biometric data can lead to severe consequences, including discrimination, identity theft, and fraud, which can have substantial economic and social impacts1.
Informed Consent and Transparency
Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical biometric data usage. Individuals must be fully aware of how their data will be collected, used, and stored. However, the proliferation of biometric technology in various sectors, including commercial and civil applications, often lacks sufficient empirical research on business ethics, leading to gaps in understanding and addressing these ethical implications2. The principle of informed consent is particularly crucial in second-generation biometrics, where data collection may occur without the individual's knowledge, raising risks of discrimination and stigmatization5.
Ethical Implications in Public Health and Surveillance
The use of biometric data in public health surveillance, especially among criminalized and key populations, presents unique ethical challenges. While biometric identification can enhance data accuracy for public health planning, it also risks infringing on privacy and exposing individuals to legal or social harm. This is particularly concerning in jurisdictions with extensive criminalization of certain populations, where biometric data could be misused, leading to distrust in health systems3.
Balancing Public Interest and Individual Rights
The ethical governance of biometric technologies involves balancing public interest with individual rights. Comparisons with genetic databases highlight that while public interest in genetic research is often framed positively, biometric databases are frequently associated with security threats. This imbalance in discourse can undermine public trust, which is essential for ethical governance4. Moreover, the ethical use of biometric data must consider the integrity of the individual's body and the potential for misuse in forensic contexts, where the nature of biometric evidence can have profound ethical implications7.
Addressing Function Creep and Informatization of the Body
Function creep, where biometric data collected for one purpose is used for another, poses a significant ethical risk. This over-generation of data can lead to unintended and potentially harmful uses. Additionally, the informatization of the body, where biometric data is used to categorize individuals, can either empower or marginalize them, depending on the context of its application. Therefore, careful consideration and regulation are necessary to prevent the misuse of biometric technology9.
Conclusion
The ethical considerations in the collection and use of biometric data are multifaceted, involving privacy, informed consent, public trust, and the balance between public interest and individual rights. As biometric technology continues to evolve and integrate into various sectors, robust ethical frameworks and regulatory measures are essential to address these concerns and protect individuals' rights and freedoms.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Ethical and Legal Considerations in Biometric Data Usage—Bulgarian Perspective
Biometric data usage in medical services must be ethical and legal, with proper protection of personal data and individual freedoms to avoid discrimination, identity theft, and fraud.
Biometric Technology and Ethics: Beyond Security Applications
Biometric technology has broad ethical implications, with privacy being the key issue, but more research is needed to better understand its ethical implications for commercial and civil applications.
Literature ReviewBiometrics and public health surveillance in criminalised and key populations: policy, ethics, and human rights considerations.
Biometrics in HIV surveillance among criminalized populations raises privacy, legal, and trust concerns, and may not be appropriate in many jurisdictions due to legal, political, and social environments.
Rigorous JournalEthical Issues in Governing Biometric Technologies
Biometric technologies pose ethical challenges, putting collective values and public interests above individual rights, and require balanced discussions of benefits and risks to build public trust and ethical governance.
From Identity Verification to Behavior Prediction: Ethical Implications of Second Generation Biometrics
Second generation biometrics, which focus on behavioral patterns, raise ethical concerns and emphasize the importance of informed consent for maintaining public trust.
Ethical Aspects of Biometric Identification
Biometric identification must be conducted with respect for fundamental ethical values and human rights law, while protecting citizens from criminal activities.
Ethical implications of digitised medical and biometric data
Ethical considerations for medical and biometric data collection, use, and retention in biometrics and medical applications include privacy, confidentiality, security, property, ownership, and reliability and trustworthiness.
Ethical Issues in Biometrics
Biometrics technology has benefits but also raises ethical concerns, requiring improved management and governance to address privacy, autonomy, and social exclusion.
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