The increasing use of biometric technology raises questions about the technology's impact on privacy in the public sector, in the workplace, and at home. 

  • Is the use of biometrics compatible with personal and informational privacy?

  • What types of protections are necessary to ensure that biometrics are not used in a privacy-invasive fashion? 

  • Under what circumstances can biometric data be misused?

  • In what situations do the potential risks of biometric usage outweigh the benefits?

Addressing these questions is necessary to ensure that biometrics, if and when used, do not undermine or threaten privacy. 

The BioPrivacy Initiative is a resource for the following:

  • Public and private sector entities drafting privacy policies or statements

  • Institutions deploying biometrics to employees, customers, or citizens

  • Private citizens concerned with the use of biometric technology 

In order to raise awareness of issues related to personal and informational privacy in biometric deployments, International Biometric Group's BioPrivacy Initiative advocates best practices for deploying biometric technology in the public and private sector, and establishes criteria for evaluating the potential privacy impact of biometric deployments and technology. 

Using the BioPrivacy Initiative's three evaluative tools - the BioPrivacy Application Impact Framework, BioPrivacy Technology Risk Ratings, and BioPrivacy Best Practices - public and private sector institutions can ensure that new or existing biometric deployments are consistent with generally accepted privacy principles.

Next: Mission and Methodology