PRIVACY ISSUES: Biometrics

Biometrics: A Threat to Libraries and Privacy
http://www.ualberta.ca/~sandraa/cla/biometrics.pdf Awarded second place in the annual writing competition of the Canadian Library Association's Student Chapter at the University of Alberta, the paper provides a basic overview of biometrics and cites several recent examples of the use of this technology in libraries. It discusses privacy concerns.
Biometrics FAQ
http://www.cippic.ca/en/faqs-resources/biometrics/ The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) was established in fall of 2003 at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section. According to CIPPIC web site, the organization "seeks to ensure balance in policy and law-making processes on issues that arise as a result of new technologies. Upper year law students work under the supervision of the Clinic director on projects and cases involving the intersection of law, technology and the public interest."

This webpage addresses issues surrounding biometric technologies and their implications for individual privacy.
Privacy & Technology: Surveillance & Wiretapping
http://www.aclu.org/Privacy/Privacy.cfm?ID=16104&c=130 In the statement on RFID tags by Barry Steinhardt, Director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program, before the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 14, 2004, Congress is cautioned to be vigilant in monitoring development in the use of RFID and biometrics and creating legal controls to protect American privacy both domestically and internationally.
U.K. Privacy Groups Give Thumbs-Down to Storing Library Users' Fingerprints
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2002/july2002/ukprivacygroups.htm In July, 2002, a new school-library circulation system that involves fingerprint recognition draws outrage from privacy groups in Britain.
Learning to Live With Biometrics
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,60342,00.htm In September, 2003, Wired News reporter, Claudia Graziano, describes how the use of biometric finger scanning systems have become commonplace in 45 school districts where over 250,000 children use the technology daily to purchase lunches in the cafeteria and to check out books in the school library.