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Biometric ID Cards - Next Gen Security?
Governments introducing biometric ID cards can bolster security, combat ID theft AND protect citizen privacy, if the technology is implemented correctly, according to smart card consortium, MultOS. Whilst biometrics at border control is proving an increasingly popular way to check identity and improve security processes, standalone biometric technologies without a smart card make it harder to combat ID theft without encroaching on personal privacy.
“When biometrics are used on their own, the fingerprint, iris or photograph image or template is stored in a database, which is referenced every time the citizen needs to prove his/her ID, whether it be crossing a border, or in a commercial environment, such as opening a bank account. So every time you need to prove your ID your movements could be recorded there,” said Tim France-Massey, Chairman, MultOS Business Advisory Group.
If the biometrics image or template is stored inside the smart card on the other hand, you can prove your ID by matching your biometric with the one stored securely in the smart card - without ever needing to reference a database. With ID cards still on the agenda for the UK, the same technology could be used at immigration to bolster security, and into everyday life to combat ID theft, and still protect our privacy.
MultOS smart card technology is providing an innovative and cost-effective alternative which is being implemented in places such as Hong Kong to increase security efficiency and solution longevity.
“A key concern of the introduction of ID cards and biometrics alike, is the perceived “Big Brother” theory of the government watching our every move. Using biometrics combined with MultOS smart cards, the ID of the person is stored on the smart card enabling the fingerprint scan to be compared with the smart card, not a database,” continued Tim. “This approach still proves our ID, but also protects our privacy. By implementing these technologies at immigration, they can be applied in every day life such as banking and on-line payments, and so make the best the most out of the investment.”
The critical difference and advantage is that this process enables a variety of applications of the technology into everyday life. For example, an on-line bank can verify the ID of the citizen using a smart card reader and scanner that again compares the fingerprint image to the one in the card. The card could also be used for access to public transport and financial transactions.
Using biometrics combined with MultOS smart cards, citizens in countries such as Hong Kong are able to pass through automated immigration checkpoints in seconds, rather than queuing for up to 30 minutes at a manned control point. In the case of Hong Kong, where almost all 6.8 million residents now have a smart ID card, 80% of the 500,000 crossing the Hong Kong border each day now use their smart ID card to avoid the queues. In addition, the card can contain a driver’s licence, prove identity at the bank, or perform e-Commerce transactions on the Internet.
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