ABSTRACT
This chapter will discuss several commonly cited concerns about biometrics as well as some popular misunderstandings, such as the expectation for biometrics to end identity theft, bring control mechanisms to our national borders, and identify terrorists. Biometric technology holds a lot of promise to improve upon the quality of life of all citizens as well as protect them from a variety of unwarranted intrusions. However, it is not a silver bullet that will provide neat, risk-free solutions to the security threats that are now part of our modern world. What biometric technology can do is provide a strong authentication component to security solutions without compromising privacy or increasing costs beyond the value that they provide. This chapter addresses the two key concerns associated with the deployment of vein pattern recognition (VPR) technology: privacy and the business case.
