생체정보의 보호

The Protection of Biometric Information

The word "biometrics" comes from Greek and is derived from the words "bio"(life) and "metric"(to measure). Biometrics is an automated technique of measuring a physiological characteristic or behavioral trait of the person and then matching that character or trait to one stored in a database for the purposes of recognizing that individual. Biometric system can measure: fingerprints, retinas, palms, voices, signature and keystrokes. The technology was developed as an alternative to the use of IDs and Passwords, in the hopes of preventing forgery, loss and theft. The majority of privacy concerns about biometrics relate to informational privacy and the right of a person to determine when, how, and to what extent their biometric information is transfered to others. However, associated with biometrics is a high level of general anxiety about privacy because the technology can reveal information that is so sensitive and intrinsic to oneself. It is necessary to first understand this concern, in order to put the biometric informational privacy issues into context. Whether biometrics are privacy's friend and foe is entirely dependent upon how the systems are designed and how the information is managed and processed. The use of biometrics needs to "conform to the new legal standards and expectations of a privacy-minded society."