Wednesday, November 08, 2006

To be fair...

To be fair, Marek Rejman-Greene who is currently Head of the Home Office Scientific Development Branch, has also headed a team of European researchers who produced the IST (Information Society Technologies) programme-funded BioVision Roadmap, commented:

"People may have rational or irrational concerns about biometrics, but from my own experience the majority of the population would accept such systems if they are informed of how they work, what data is retained, how that information is used and, especially, if they are given some form of redress if something goes wrong... most importantly, any deployment of biometric systems - be it in the public or private arena - should involve consultation with all interested parties, especially end users."

Though common EU frameworks exist in areas such as personal privacy, and health and safety no such legislation yet governs the use of biometrics, which is seen principally as a data protection issue and therefore remains the responsibility of individual Member States.


This article was dated October 2004. A Code of Conduct was being worked towards with regards to biometric technology in Europe. Whether that has been achieved? - I don't know.

If one exists - it should be applied in our schools where the children's/educational biometric business is booming, not just the UK but in Europe as well.

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