New regional biometric security plans spark privacy debate

With heightened regional security demands and growing concern among financial institutions over identity theft, the organisers report the Middle East Biometrics Forum has seen a rush of delegates registering for the event, which takes place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai.

Representing more than 12 countries, delegates taking part in the forum include high-level government, police and immigration officials along with executives from petrochemical companies, aviation authorities, banks and telecom companies, among others.

"Gulf governments are introducing multi-million dollar biometric-based identity programmes for their civilian populations," said Chris Mullinger, conference director with the Institute for International Research (IIR), the forum organisers.

"Private sector companies in the region are also installing large scale systems which incorporate biometric elements to reliably identify staff and customers."

Biometric technology is about identifying people based on their physical characteristics using information technology. It is considered by many experts as the only reliable solution for protecting the identity and the rights of individuals because it recognises unique and unalterable features.

Using information stored in databases or on chips in smart cards, biometric identification can involve the contours of a hand or finger, fingerprints or the pattern of an iris. Even variable characteristics can be used such as voice, the way a person writes a signature, the rhythm when typing on a keyboard, or the way they walk.

"The increasing introduction of biometric technology has led to a widespread debate in several parts of the world about privacy and public acceptance," said Mullinger. "These are important issues but, until now, that debate has not received the same level of public exposure in the region. That is about to change with the high-profile Middle East Biometrics Forum."

Giving the welcome address to delegates on "The Art of Biometrics" will be Sabri Hamed Al Azazi, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Internet City based eHosting Datafort. The company is a subsidiary of Dubai Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM), and operates throughout the Middle East, Africa and the Asian subcontinent.

An international keynote address on the future of biometrics through to 2007 will be presented by Kush Wadhwa, Director Consulting for New York-based International Biometric Group. The group is renowned as the industry's leading consultants and has been advising on biometric technologies since 1996. He will also be providing a final day workshop on putting biometric technology to work in both the public and private sector.

Other world leaders in biometric technology will also be taking part in the forum, including Sagem, France; LG Iris, USA; Hewlett Packard, Middle East; Identix, UK; Banque-Tec International Pty Ltd., Australia; Datastrip Limited, UK; ES Gulf, Bahrain; De La Rue, UK; and Siemens, Middle East.

The forum will be chaired by Robert Carter, System Director for De La Rue of the UK and head of the British Standards Institute Working Group of Biometrics. He is also a leading member of several European and international standards bodies on biometrics.

The forum is endorsed by the Association for Biometrics, a UK-headquartered international body dedicated to creating awareness of biometric technology and applications. It encourages informed debate on issues arising from the deployment of biometrics, such as privacy and public acceptance.