Many are Sceptical as to the Future of Biometrics, Privacy and Control Related Matters.

Lots have been revealed, written, stated, said (or not!) and advocated, in favour of and/or against utilizing, deploying and mass-use of biometrics comes under the magnifying glass. 

Here is the tell-and-sell, the PR and public message, appeal from the ‘elite’, big business, government and other interest groups. 

A promise, potential, future, next-generation focus… Just imagine living and working in a cashless society, regulated, controlled, convenient, safer?

Sounds good, sure! Most would buy in or at least be curious as to what this is or means? 

But it also immediately does beg the question (inevitably, undeniably, sceptically but necessarily voiced here).

Is and will the future of biometrics get us there, faster, reliably as well as really be just that (as promised). 

At what Cost?

Is there not something more sinister at play and work here, masking the real implications, use, purpose, agenda and potential risky future of biometrics? 

What are those potential costs, disasters, price, errors, privacy and rights lurking in the shadow that nobody seems to be questioning or scrutinizing?

Personalization, individualized shopping, banking, traveling, custom-living spaces, computing, driving and more, is the promise and epiphany.

Reality might be a little different and not as smooth sailing as most think.

It will come with sacrifice and a high price – privacy and personal rights, choices and preferences, restrictions, limits and protectionism, less, loss or lack of control, independence and what used to be “private”. 

It will all now be captured, stored, shared, public knowledge, controlled by someone or something else.

Too high a price? Maybe… perhaps, but lets dive even deeper and look ever closer at the future of biometrics. 

All arenas and life-critical things like money, food, business, resources, connection, access, permissions, restrictions, control will all form part of our future existence and technology-enabled world, with less and less personal privacy, rights, freedoms and choice, privileges.

They are all being re-written and redefined as we speak, transact, order, are served, travel, move, compute, communicate and see around us.

Illustration of Public, Future and Intrusive Biometrics Use

Bio-security is here… that is no news to anyone! BUT, the future of biometrics enabled living, is friendly, convenient, safer and will protect us more, better, faster… we are constantly reassured, bombarded and told without end. Makes you wonder why? 

Banking, credit, finance, commerce, retailing, e-tailing, schools and education, cafeterias, constant surveillance, linked databases, profiles of biometrics, data-and-information sharing, with less and less individual control and privacy… 

Makes you wonder… if it is all such a good idea, or just a BAD one, that someone else wants us to inevitably follow, without any questions asked or answered? 

Cautionary Notes and Warning Signs

There are assuredly more emerging innovative ways that these types of technology and innovation can spark creativity, make life easier, but it should not be happening at the expense of something so precious as personal rights, freedoms and privacy.

Law, governments and even business realize the potential for this and should be the lone entrusted with its development and future. 

E-commerce, curbing identity theft and fraud, security applications are often toted as the poster children for championing more and more of these types of development and implementations.

However, now there are warning signs and flag already going up, not to be missed.