Biometric Malfunctions
In the aftermath of terrorist attacks, airlines and other commercial concerns, including Disney World, adopted an identification system called biometrics to provide additional security for their clients. However, sometimes the system fails to fulfill its appointed task.
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The Biometric System
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In biometrics, machines called biometric devices identify people based on bodily characteristics such as fingerprints, hand features, voice characteristics, facial features and the iris or retina of the eye. Biometric devices also attempt to identify people by their behavior, such as the way they walk, according to the Biometrics.gov website.
Comparison of Data
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The FBI has data on known security threats. The database also possesses the data of innocuous people, usually those who willingly offer it. When people enter a facility that uses a biometric system, biometric devices record their data. Computers then compare this data with the database, and verification or repudiation of their identity claims follows.
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Biometric Failure
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Not all people have sufficiently distinctive characteristics for biometric identification. Occasionally a biometric system will mistakenly refute a valid identity claim or mistakenly accept a false identity. The system may fail when the biometric samples are not up to standards, or someone may adroitly deceive the system. Because of such factors, the Biometrics website emphasizes the importance of secondary procedures and contingency plans.
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References
- Photo Credit biometric device 1 image by Andrew Brown from Fotolia.com
