Check how your country gathers biometric data

by iNinja Marketing Team

Biometric data, by all means, can make our lives easier in some way. For example, it already simplifies and speeds up the security check-up in airports. Also, governments can protect us better by using this data since it makes detecting criminals and suspects much more straightforward.

However, it is unsettling for many people to know that their government has their biometric data such as fingerprints, retina scans, and even voice samples. Moreover, there already have been cases when the use of biometric data had negative results. For instance, a couple of years ago a wrong person was arrested because of the use of biometrics.

So it doesn’t come as a surprise that the discontent is rising. Especially considering that some countries start to violate biometrics by establishing extensive surveillance that is rather questionable in terms of human rights. And the fact that civilians can gather biometrics, too, doesn’t make the situation better — it gets even worse when the data of underage children get collected without the consent of parents.

Now, knowing all those issues, let’s take a look at how countries around the world use biometric data.

The United States

Starting with the USA, we can already see how biometrics are extensively used.

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Voter registration
  • Bank accounts

The biometrics of US citizens are used already for a few years. Even banks use voiceprints to confirm the identity of a client during authentication. Visitors to the States also must submit biometric data such as fingerprints and a digital photo.

Are there any regulations?

Well, not really. There isn’t any federal law that would’ve covered all the details regarding the use and collection of biometric data in the USA. Some states are introducing biometrics privacy laws that regulate the depth and necessity of data gathering. And tech giants such as Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft regulate themselves when it comes to this matter.

In the light of all that, the fact that the Department of Homeland Security plans to collect more types of biometrics of people that submit applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services becomes even more disturbing. It will be a must to submit DNA for the proof of a genetic relationship, palm prints, voiceprints, and iris scans.

Australia

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Visitors and returning citizens of Australia can prove their identities with biometrics since 2007 thanks to SmartGate — a border control self-service system. They need to have biometric passports and go through a face-recognition scan.

The new system, introduced in 2020, will now use facial images and fingerprints to process applications for visas and speed up border control.

Are there any regulations?

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner regulates biometrics as sensitive information that must be used for identification needs and national security only. Citizens that feel violated by the use of this data can turn to OAIC to make a complaint.

China

Moving to the most controversial country when it comes to surveillance.

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

China is not shy of using biometrics. People that visit this country must submit their photos and fingerprints. And the biometric data of Chinese citizens are already in use.

Popular payment systems — Alipay and WeChat Pay — are widely used in this country as around 75% of Chinese citizens use digital payments. These systems require biometric authentication to process payments.

In general, China’s biometric database is one of the largest in the world.

What are the consequences?

Have you noticed how we didn’t even mention regulations? Yeah, that’s a bold hint. The mass surveillance system of China is called Skynet — quite an unsettling name for The Terminator fans. It uses more than 200 million cameras that track people and vehicles through biometric data such as facial recognition and physical traits. Skynet can track and identify individuals at all times.

And since early 2020, citizens that want to get a new mobile phone number must submit facial scans.

Finland

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Quite a lot of Finnish citizens have their biometrics such as DNA and fingerprints stored in databases. In 2020, one of the largest banks in Finland — OP Financial Group — introduces a biometric bank card that allows authorizing payments with fingerprints.

When it comes to visiting Finland, it depends on what country you’re coming from. Some visitors will have to submit a photo and fingerprints.

Are there any regulations?

So far, the allowance for the use of biometrics in Finland is limited to stopping crime and banking-related matters described above. Finnish police and customs can use facial recognition to identify criminals and suspects.

Sri Lanka

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Biometrics is a quite recent technology for Sri Lanka. It started being in use with the introduction of an e-National Identity Card that must replace the current identity card.

Some visitors must submit their photos and fingerprints when entering Sri Lanka. The need for this data is determined by the country a person is coming from.

Are there any regulations?

For now, there is a law to create a national digital database to release new identity cards. There are no regulations regarding the privacy of individuals. Data required for identity cards include fingerprints and will be used to issue passports and licenses, control and pay tax, and vote.

Costa Rica

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards

The use of biometrics for passports and ID cards is still just being implemented as Costa Rica only recently started issuing ePassports.

Depending on the country you come from to visit Costa Rica, you might be required to submit your photo and fingerprints.

Are there any regulations?

The use of biometrics in Costa Rica is a very new practice. The country was working for years to develop its Supreme Electoral Tribunal that includes building a national biometric database and the introduction of biometric-based ID cards. The facial recognition system also was proposed.

These actions are aimed at protecting citizens and reducing crime. Soon, Costa Rica is supposed to use biometrics rather extensively.

Pakistan

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Depending on the country you come from to visit Pakistan, you might be required to submit your photo and fingerprints.

Are there any regulations?

Since late 2020, Pakistani customs use biometrics to identify visitors and retuning citizens for security reasons. So far, this technology is very new for this country, and its use is not regulated much. But there already have been issues with authentication as thousands of Pakistani citizens couldn’t identify themselves correctly with the National Database and Registration Authority. Then needed to authenticate to receive relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Estonia

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Being one of the most digitized countries in the world, Estonia has most of its governmental services available online. Therefore, the vast majority of citizens of this country have their sensitive data stored by the government. There isn’t any central database, and all the data is reliably protected.

Depending on the country you come from to visit Estonia, you might be required to submit your photo and fingerprints.

Are there any regulations?

Estonian government fiercely safeguards all the gathered information, and that’s already not bad. Especially considering the vast use of biometrics. The identity card of Estonia allows citizens to use it for banking, filing taxes, traveling to other countries and on public transport, and voting. There have been issues with it as a previous version was vulnerable to cyberattacks.

And since 2014, Estonia offers an e-Residency program that allows citizens from other countries to start businesses in Estonia. Foreigners can establish and grow an online company remotely from any country. They must submit their photos and fingerprints to be eligible for this program.

Uruguay

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Uruguay began issuing biometric eID cards just in 2014, so it’s a rather new technology for this country. Additionally, the biometrics of citizens are gathered during voting at polling stations.

Visitors from some countries must submit their fingerprints and photos.

What are the benefits?

Since 2019, bank customers can authenticate their identities through facial recognition. They can access their account with a mobile or desktop device using their selfie.

Malta

The use cases for biometric data

  • Passports
  • ID cards
  • Bank accounts

Visitors from some countries must submit their fingerprints and photos.

Biometrics are new to Malta

Just in August of 2020, the government of Malta announced a biometric identity card. It will be issued for citizens that have applied for it, and there won’t be a national rollout. The new ID card is supposed to protect citizens from identity theft and forgery.

Malta has a biometric database that contains just fingerprints of criminals, suspects, and those found on crime scenes. The data is available only to the Maltese Police Force.

The outtakesAs you can see, countries around the world start quite extensively using biometrics. And the lack of regulations is rather concerning. While you can’t really protect your data once it’s gathered — only a government can take care of it — you still can strengthen your security against malefactors. You can use a VPN app to hide your online activity and reduce the risk of your sensitive data getting stolen through unprotected WiFi networks and other vulnerabilities. The iNinja VPN app will protect your Android, iOS, and desktop devices without limiting your bandwidth.