The introduction of the Biometric system has taken new strides as we usher into the next decade. These cards are personal identity cards that provide for a personal identification tool, address proof and are linked to the National Identity Register in countries like the United Kingdom. Many Europeans countries have considered adopting this system to have a much more synchronized process of identification as well as the compilation of data with regard to the citizens of the countries (Ahmed & Malik, 2013). The Identity Cards Act 2006 was enacted in the state of England to bring out such procedure of enforcing unique identity identification system, which shall have the details of the people residing in the country with regard to their private and public information. “As the move towards e-Government gathers pace in Europe, the impact of the digitalization of many citizen-state interactions is beginning to challenge accepted wisdom on what digital citizenship consists of, what its risks are, and how they might be managed in the new digital era. In the evolving relationship between e-Government and the digital citizen, of growing importance is the role-played by new identity management systems (IDMS) and the introduction of electronic ID cards? E-Government projects often involve large-scale sharing of data, much of it personal data about citizens, and increasingly these projects involve the personal identification and authentication of individual citizens as they use electronic public services.” (Bank, 2017)
In today’s IT driven society, technology is all pervasive. In almost all aspects of life, the role of technology is all too evident to ignore. As the threat of viruses increase in the software world, the companies try to come out with the latest anti-virus updates and the cycle seems to go on. Similar situation exists in matters concerning security and privacy. Many a times, efforts are made by scrupulous elements to sneak in sanitized zones and cause discomfort to general public or destroy the security setup. Instances involving the theft of data from secure zones, theft of items from a retail store, fitting a timer bomb inside the metro tube, hijacking a passenger aircraft by smuggling in arms and ammunition inside a passenger aircraft, etc are the kind of instances which have forced the security agencies to go for an upgrade regularly. Technology proves to be quite helpful in devising gadgets and devices required for firming up the security apparatus help in these applications.
This research study is being undertaken to analyse how predominant the role of technology happens to be in handling the security issue in general and how the biometric technology has helped the security system in dealing with difficult circumstances. Biometrics can help during elections, authorised entry into an office, firming up security, preparing a database of the citizens etc. In fact there are some offices which make good use of biometric devices to ensure punctuality and discipline amongst the workforce. An effort would be made during the study how biometric system can
These biometric cards have a great amount of use and the government introduced the same in order to cut down on the wastage of resources and to ensure national security. According to ministers, this card was introduced so that people would not have to have various other cards as per their identity proof and thus it would make identification for owning certain products, traveling around the country and abroad etc. better. Furthermore, it would help the government to easily keep a tab on each citizen residing within the country and the citizens would be able to use the social security services without misusing the same (Awad, 2017).
After conducting various meetings and consultations regarding the introduction of such a system for the purpose of evaluation and tracking of every citizen within the country, the government decided to go ahead with the same because the main merit of working with this system in place would mean that the government has the ability to clearly and properly identify each and every person living in the country and thus have his records, which would further lead to a large bout of development as they would be able to understand the situation of different people better. The government also tried to keep a check on terrorist activities and thus provided that having such a system in place would really help to curb the same (BIOMET (Workshop), Cantoni, Dimov, & Tistarelli, 2014).
In the United Kingdom, efforts were made and the majority passed the implementation of the bill for the introduction of biometric cards in the Parliament. However, there was a great amount of information leaked regarding the difficulty that the Parliament was facing regarding the issuing of these cards in terms of gathering all the information regarding the people, keeping the costs in check as well as ensuring the reliability of having such a system in place. The cost and the reliability factors became the two most important factors in terms of understanding this very system (Chin, 2011).
The cost of having this system in place has been estimated to be around 12 to 18 billion pounds and the government has also been challenged on the basis of the reliability of this very scheme because, in order to undertake this successfully, it would have to carry out research and find out information up to date about the people at least every five years. A new database linkage system would also have to be effectively placed within the purview of the government in order to carry out research work and save all the information regarding the biometrics of the people within the country (Grother, Salamon, & National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.), 2012). For the purpose of the ID card, photographs, proof of information as well as fingerprints would be required, which would further require more costs and take up a great amount of time. The government was skeptical about many people not providing their correct information and getting away with fake biometric passes for the purpose of unlawful or illegal activities. Further, it was also to be decided whether or not this card could be used in place of the passport that people already had, in order to at least travel within the country of Europe, because getting the same accepted by other nations would be yet another task. During a time of such high crisis with respect to crimes, no country would want to allow anything less than a universally acceptable proof of information regarding a person and thus these biometric cards proved to be unreliable in terms of the same (Grother, Salamon, Chandramouli, & National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.), 2013).
The main effect that this card would have brought about would be to reduce crime and terror and also give people ease of access as they would not have to use multiple ID cards for the purpose of registering for products or buying assets and creating bank accounts. However, according to critics, these cards have only helped to take further the process of crime because people have been issuing fake biometric cards which have led to a great amount of wastage of resources and destruction with respect to maintaining law and order within the country (Hidayat & Ihsan, 2011).
There have been many human rights activists and groups that have challenged the use of these cards in terms of violating human privacy. According to Gordon Brown, these cards used in the United Kingdom should have had the capacity of being instantly notified to the police as they were swiped. As soon as a person entered a building via an iris scan door, these cards were to let the police know the whereabouts of the person. They would also have been used in order to share confidential information about a person to the police and have all that information stored in their database against the person’s will if such a situation was to arise (In Fennelly, Fennelly, & Perry, 2014).
These cards would help to marginalize the weaker sections of society as well which would not be a boon for them. It would rusticate the gypsies, beggars and the other poorer sections of the people from the well off and make the government habituate them in a different part of the city or country altogether. Even though the government argued that these cards were required in order to remove identity theft, such a situation cannot be completely erased by having this system in place. It is important for any government, especially a democratic one, in order to ensure that its people are satisfied and happy. Every government can only do that by knowing and understanding the status of the people, which can further be done by collecting their information. However, activists argue that using these cards simply takes this entire exercise to a whole new level where each person’s information is available to the police who have a track on the whereabouts of every man roaming the country because of his card swiping activities. This was not taken well by the people because it hinders privacy issues and leads to petty problems which the police would have to further look into and solve. This would involve new rule making which would again be a tedious process (In Kakadiaris, In Scheirer, In Hassebrook, & SPIE (Society), 2013).
For system administrators and internet users, security has become a primary concern. Whether one needs to protect private information and data in one’s file, to lock to unauthorized users, a computer system, individuals need to get a suitable level of security. This appropriate security is also required to regulate access to an extranet or an intranet, or to transact business through the internet. Determining effective means of realizing this proper security is also important. The fear of internet security has been one of the major barriers to transacting businesses electronically through the internet as a medium (In Ling, In Jin, & In Hu, 2015). With the contemporary popularity as well as prospective profits of conducting transactions electronically, many organization executives experience a conflict situation. In other words, online connections to expand their sales are likely to lead to threats and risks of intrusion. Alternatively, staying disconnected from this very internet will bind them to sacrifice their client contact as well as services to their existing competitors (Jahankhani, 2010).
Use of Biometrics to secure Business systems
In order to transact most business dealings, and to convey electronic mail, the internet makes use of mail transfer protocol. These transmissions possess as much confidentiality as a postcard. In other words, it travels over untrusted and insecure lines. This implies that anybody who is at any point along the path of transmission can access the message and hence read its content using the word processing program or text viewer. Also, since these transmission lines are not secure, forging e-mail or using the name of another person is easy (Kavati, Ilaiah, Prasad, Bhagvati, & Chakravarthy, 2017). This has made theft of identity one of the leading fraud incidences. An individual can claim that another person sent a message, for instance, to terminate an order or evade paying an invoice.
Both in the private and in the public sectors, organizations are cognizant of the needs and importance of internet security. Both sectors, therefore, have led to measures that safeguard their internet data and business systems. However, the most appropriate way to prevent an intruder from accessing the network is by providing a security wall in between the corporate network and the intruder. Since these intruders accesses the system by the use of a software program, like a virus, or through a direct connection, user authentication, data encryption, and firewalls can somewhat prevent these intruders who intend to hack such networks (Kumar, Prabhakar, Ross, & SPIE (Society), 2010).
The belief is that the smaller the number of people authorized to get administrative and physical access to the server systems or confidential files, the higher the level of security. A number of applications rely on individual identification numbers, passwords, and keys as their hidden security to access confidential information and restricted files. However, these identification numbers, passwords, keys, and cards can be stolen, forgotten, lost, given away, or forged. Additionally, these devices mainly serve to identify the individual (Kung, Mak, M.-W, Lin, & S.-H, 2010). They are not able to verify or confirm that the individual is who she or he claims to be. The information and technology age is rapidly revolutionizing the manner in which dealings are completed. Daily actions are progressively being electronically handled, rather than being handled face to face or with paper and pencil. This progress and development in the electronic transaction has led to a greater demand for accurate and fast user proof of identity and authentication. A way of achieving this rapid, user–friendly, and distinct identity and verification is using biometric technology.
The previous decade has experienced dramatic advancements in business activities. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of corporations that store and also access sensitive and critical business data electronically over the internet or on computer networks. Therefore, the need for internet security has become a fundamental aspect since there is an increase in the level of threat of electronic crimes (Li & Jain, 2015). These have all together, made the online community more susceptible to frauds in the transfer of electronic information. For decades, biometrics has been used in military and government applications that require a high level of security. However, currently, the biometrics technology is increasingly becoming affordable and is, hence, being used as a method of network authentication and overall safety feature. Biometrics can be described as the authentication technique that depends on physical or behavioral characteristics that can be verified by users of computers, making it easier to track people (Meunier, Xiao, Vo, & Canada, 2013).
Biometrics offers greater security to financial assets and personal data, which are more essential. They can better protect most vital data, which could bring the most significant harm if reached by a wrong person. An example of the most excellent possible applications is the use of biometrics to access ATMs. It can also be used with debit or credit cards as well as, as an overall use for fighting credit card deception. Several types of monetary transactions are also possible applications (Workshop International, In Dimov, & In Tistarelli, 2014).
In the United States, many states have managed to save considerable amounts of money through the implementation of biometric authentication procedures. In the process, the numbers of profits claims have dramatically dropped. This has, therefore, validated the system as one of the most effective preventive agents against several claims. Also, they can print counterfeit checks in another person’s name, acquire bank loans in other people’s names, and commit other creative tricks in the names of other people to gain at their expense. Such scam can cause severe damage by the time the person realizes what has happened. Identity theft victims usually spend fortune amounts of dollars and several years clearing their credit reports and names (Modi, 2011).
Ethics is one of the virtues that every organization, individual, and systems are expected to uphold at all cost. This is because it protects human dignity, the right to privacy, and confidentiality (Workshop International, In Dimov, & In Tistarelli, 2014). Recently biometric is one of the embraced fields that requires a lot of ethics concerning identification and authentication. Occasionally, people feel untrustworthy, embarrassed and dehumanized. Consequently, people feel threatened by any fraud, and identity threat including having data about themselves accessed, and misused by other people. For instance, there is the use of false biometric data like face image, fingerprints, and retinal scans that take the input device (Muller, 2011). According to the theory of consequentialism which states that a morally right conduct should result in a real thing, some of the biometric devices have achieved limited competence to identify a particular person with technical accuracy, reliability, and foolproof indeed. This means that the end does not justify the means.
Ethical egoism postulates that actions may be helpful, detrimental, and or rather neutral to the wellbeing of others (Traore, 2012). This implies that the actions people frequently undertake have consequence. For instance, the point of weakness in a biometric procedure occurs during the enrollment course. A subject may have the opportunity to form a new identity for the presentation of fake documents during the registration processes. Once there is acceptance of a new false identity, and an imposter can use the services illegally (Rattani, Roli, & Granger, 2015). Furthermore, when biometric databases fail to interconnect, it becomes easy for one to steal a real identity through the presentation of another person’s particulars during the enrollment course. This implies that the biometric data becomes unethical since hackers may use them for their benefit (Traore, 2012).
A biometric character is mostly connected to the person’s intrinsic physical condition. For instance, a person with deteriorated fingerprint possesses fingerprints with little biometric character. This implies that the biometric data carries fall information thereby losing morality and, standards. Mature standards ascertain that users adhere to general authentication protocols. Biometric technology may experience challenges including loss of a biometric file as opposed to a password that can be easily replaced (“SIA warns Alaska on identification,” 2010). The stolen biometric data may be somehow invalidated. In addition, biometrics is exclusively used for surveillance purposes. In this case, face recognition surveillance can be used to enhance security and also to monitor stubborn criminals Faces can be obtained from social websites, malls, and sporting event and used for unrelated security purposes without the individual’s consent shows disregard of the people’s right to privacy. The problem comes in when there is mistaken identity. The victim will lose human dignity. Thus, the real intention of biometrics data is lost (Tistarelli & Champod, 2017).
Conclusion
In conclusion, Biometric cards have their merits and demerits as discussed within the scope of this paper. Despite being introduced in a number of European nations like Northern Ireland, the UK, and Scotland, they have not proved to be a viable option for the people because of the kind of invasion and hindrance to a person’s privacy that they have led to. Even though these cards promise to bring about social security, national security as well as law and order, it is not possible to carry out the same in a democratic nation by keeping a tab on the people by gaining access to all their information and personal lifestyle actions. In addition, it takes a toll on the government to maintain the costs related to placing this system in the first place. Activists have questioned the reliability of having such a system and have ruled out the possibility of finding it as a feasible option for the people. Therefore having the system of biometric cards in a country is not really an effective option in terms of curbing crime and trying to maintain law and order and neither is this entire system going to be cost effective or completely reliable for the government. It is a clearly recognized fact that the customary security measures like identification cards and passwords cannot sufficiently satisfy all forms of security requirements. As a result, Biometric is presently and continuously used for identification and authentication purposes in information systems. Several behavioral and physiological biometrics for the identification of individuals have wider applications like regulation of access to private files and personal computers. As the technology of biometrics becomes more conventional, the creation of applications leads to more phases of people’s daily activities. This is because the rising interest in integrating traditional technologies of internet security with biometrics has a potential to increase internet security in the future. However, the ethical consideration of biometric technology is questionable particularly on security. Most of the problems such as violation of individual rights, proper protection of biometric database, personal liberty, and confidentiality have tainted the good intention of biometrics. In order to overcome biometric data identification ethical problems, stored biometric databases should be protected. In addition, there should be avoidance of unauthorized collection, utilization, and retention of the biometric information. Also, the ethical matters surrounding biometrics technologies have to be weighed against potential benefits. The governments should, therefore, enhance the usage of the biometric system to mitigate the issues as mentioned above.
This is a research paper that is solely compiled by me. I have a place for technology that is taking the world to new levels. My curiosity to know more about biometrics helped me do a research in this area.
References
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download