Does the Use of Biometrics Increase Security?

By Damilola Adebayo   |   Feb 17 2023


Biometrics refers to unique physical or behavioral characteristics that can be used to identify individuals, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, and voice recognition. The use of biometrics has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to enhance security in various contexts, including border control, financial transactions, and physical access control. The question of whether the use of biometrics increases security is a complex one that depends on several factors.

Modern cybersecurity is focused on reducing the risks for this powerful security solution: traditional passwords have long been a point of weakness for security systems. Biometrics aims to answer this issue by linking proof of identity to our bodies and behavior patterns.


On one hand, biometric identification has some clear advantages over traditional forms of identification such as passwords and PINs. For one, biometrics are unique to each individual and cannot be lost, forgotten, or stolen in the same way that passwords can be. This makes it more difficult for unauthorized individuals to gain access to sensitive information or areas. Biometric data is also difficult to forge or duplicate, further increasing the security of the system. In addition, the use of biometrics can simplify the identification process and reduce the potential for human error. On the back of these, many applications and services utilize biometric technology such as personal hardware (phones, laptops, PC, tablets), financial transactions, healthcare, law enforcement, and airports amongst others. 


However, there are also several potential drawbacks to the use of biometrics in security systems. One major concern is privacy. Biometric data is highly personal and sensitive, and individuals may not want their biometric data to be collected and stored by various organizations. There is also the risk of data breaches, which could result in the theft of biometric data and compromise the security of the system. Another concern is the potential for bias in the collection and analysis of biometric data, which could result in the exclusion of certain groups of people from accessing certain services or areas.


Furthermore, while biometrics are unique to everyone, they are not necessarily foolproof. For example, facial recognition technology has been shown to be less accurate for certain groups of people, such as women and people of color. This could result in false positives, where individuals are misidentified as someone else, or false negatives, where individuals are not identified at all. In addition, biometric data can change over time, such as in the case of a facial injury, which could result in individuals being excluded from the system.


Finally, the use of biometrics raises some ethical concerns. For example, if biometric data is collected without an individual's knowledge or consent, it could be seen as a violation of their privacy. In addition, the use of biometrics in certain contexts, such as immigration control or law enforcement, could be seen as discriminatory or as a violation of human rights.


In conclusion, the use of biometrics can increase security in certain contexts, but it is not a foolproof solution and must be implemented carefully to minimize potential risks and ethical concerns. Any security system that incorporates biometrics must prioritize the protection of individuals' privacy and ensure that the collection and use of biometric data are transparent and fair. In addition, it is important to recognize that biometric identification should not be seen as a replacement for other security measures, but rather as an additional layer of security that can complement existing systems.

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