Biometric recognition--the automated recognition of individuals based on their behavioral and biological characteristic--is promoted as a way to help identify terrorists, provide better control of access to physical facilities and financial accounts, and increase the efficiency of access to services and their utilization. Biometric recognition has been applied to identification of criminals, patient tracking in medical informatics, and the personalization of social services, among other things. In spite of substantial effort, however, there remain unresolved questions about the effectiveness and management of systems for biometric recognition, as well as the appropriateness and societal impact of their use. Moreover, the general public has been exposed to biometrics largely as high-technology gadgets in spy thrillers or as fear-instilling instruments of state or corporate surveillance in speculative fiction.

Now, as biometric technologies appear poised for broader use, increased concerns about national security and the tracking of individuals as they cross borders have caused passports, visas, and border-crossing records to be linked to biometric data. A focus on fighting insurgencies and terrorism has led to the military deployment of biometric tools to enable recognition of individuals as friend or foe. Commercially, finger-imaging sensors, whose cost and physical size have been reduced, now appear on many laptop personal computers, handheld devices, mobile phones, and other consumer devices.

Biometric Recognition: Challenges and Opportunities addresses the issues surrounding broader implementation of this technology, making two main points: first, biometric recognition systems are incredibly complex, and need to be addressed as such. Second, biometric recognition is an inherently probabilistic endeavor. Consequently, even when the technology and the system in which it is embedded are behaving as designed, there is inevitable uncertainty and risk of error. This book elaborates on these themes in detail to provide policy makers, developers, and researchers a comprehensive assessment of biometric recognition that examines current capabilities, future possibilities, and the role of government in technology and system development.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• WHITHER BIOMETRICS COMMITTEE
• COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS BOARD
• Preface
• Acknowledgment of Reviewers
• Summary
• 1. Introduction and Fundamental Concepts
  • THE SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
  • MOTIVATIONS FOR USING BIOMETRIC SYSTEMS
  • HUMAN IDENTITY AND BIOMETRICS
  • BASIC OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS
  • COPING WITH THE PROBABILISTIC NATURE OF BIOMETRIC SYSTEMS
  • ADDITIONAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OPEN-SET IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
  • SECURITY AND THREAT MODELING
  • ON REPORT SCOPE AND BOUNDARIES
• 2. Engineering Biometric Systems
  • BASIC BIOMETRIC SYSTEM OPERATIONS
  • OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
  • INTEROPERABILITY
  • SYSTEM LIFE-CYCLE ISSUES
  • TEST AND EVALUATION
• 3. Lessons from Other Large-Scale Systems
  • MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
  • MEDICAL SCREENING SYSTEMS
• 4. Cultural, Social, and Legal Considerations
  • INTERACTION BETWEEN BIOMETRIC SYSTEMS AND INDIVIDUALS
  • SOCIETAL IMPACT
  • LEGAL ISSUES
  • DATA POLICIES
  • SUMMARY
• 5. Research Opportunities and the Future of Biometrics
  • TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
  • PUBLIC POLICY CONSIDERATIONS AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
  • REALIZING A WELL-DESIGNED BIOMETRIC SYSTEM
  • CONCLUDING REMARKS
• Appendixes
  • A Biosketches of Committee Members and Staff
  • B Watch-List Operational Performance and List Size: A First-Cut Analysis
  • C Statement of Task
  • D Testing and Evaluation Examples
  • E The Biometrics Standards Landscape

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

Support for this project was provided by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Award No. N00174-03-C-0074) and by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security with assistance from the National Science Foundation (Award No. IIS-0344584). Any opinions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agencies and organizations that provided support for the project.