The Problem of Biometrics Discrimination: How It Harms Marginalized Communities
As the use of biometric technology becomes more prevalent in today’s society, concerns are growing about the potential for discrimination against marginalized communities. Biometric technology, which uses individual physical traits such as fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans, has been touted as a convenient and secure way to authenticate identities. However, as biometric data is collected and used more widely, evidence is emerging that this technology has the potential to perpetuate existing biases and contribute to discrimination against certain groups.
Introduction
Biometrics technology is gaining popularity across various industries and sectors ranging from banking, healthcare, and law enforcement, among others. Biometrics technology allows people to use individual physical traits, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans, to authenticate their identities and grant access to various services. However, the use of this technology raises concerns about the potential for discrimination against marginalized communities, including people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities.
Body
A key challenge with biometric technology is that it often relies on databases that may contain biased data. For example, if the database that is being used to compare biometric data against contains a higher proportion of data from people of a certain race or gender, the technology may be more accurate in identifying individuals from that group while being more prone to errors when identifying individuals from other groups. This means that biometric technology can exacerbate existing biases and have implications on the daily lives of marginalized individuals.
One example of the impact of biometric technology on marginalized communities is in law enforcement. Facial recognition technology has been shown to be less accurate in identifying people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities. In one case, a black man was wrongfully arrested after being falsely identified by facial recognition technology. Studies have also shown that people with darker skin tones would be more likely to be falsely identified than those with lighter complexions. Such discriminatory use of biometric technology can lead to systemic harm by perpetuating social biases.
Another area where biometric technology has been proven to be problematic is the workplace. Biometric attendance systems that use facial recognition or fingerprints can be more challenging for people with disabilities, especially physical impairments that affect the hands or the face. This can lead to exclusion from work or more limited opportunities to access certain jobs. In this instance, the technology serves as a barrier to inclusion and diversity, posing a considerable challenge to marginalized groups.
In addition, biometrics technology in border control applications has faced criticism. It has been shown that some countries use it mainly to identify and analyze refugees and immigrants, leading to systemic discrimination against certain groups of people.
Conclusion
Biometrics technology can be a convenient and secure way of verifying identity, but it also has the potential to marginalize vulnerable individuals and perpetuate social biases. The use of biometrics technology can result in harmful and discriminatory outcomes, particularly against people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities. Therefore, it is imperative that developers of biometric technology take necessary steps to ensure that their products are equitable and safe for all users.
In conclusion, while there are undoubtedly benefits to using biometrics technology, it is essential to consider the potential risks and implications for marginalized individuals carefully. It is the responsibility of both policymakers and developers to ensure that biometric technology is regulated, transparent and inclusive, particularly for those who are already marginalized. To fully realize the promise of this technology and minimize its potential harms, it is essential to recognize, confront, and address the problem of biometrics discrimination.
References
• DasBanerjee, T., Hiremath, N., & Kailas, A. (2021). Biometrics Technology and its Impact on Marginalized Population- Literature Review. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, 9, 1-3.
• Hoeffel, E. C., Rastogi, S., Kim, M. O., & Shahid, H. (2012). The diversity explosion in America’s neighborhoods and what it means for schools. The Century Foundation.
• Sánchez-Montañés, M. A., Sánchez-Ávila, C., Gómez-Barrero, M., & Alegre, E. (2021). Biometric Innate Discrimination Dataset and Fairness Metrics. arXiv preprint arXiv:2103.11002.
