Biometrics

Dec 29 2018

WPF advises FTC regarding privacy frameworks and knowledge governance; files key comments

The World Privacy Forum has submitted a set of key comments to the US Federal Trade Commission regarding privacy frameworks and governance. The comments introduce the idea of knowledge governance and propose frameworks that will work to solve the serious privacy challenges we face in complex data ecosystems.

Oct 25 2018

ED Pam Dixon calls for a Nuremberg Code of digital ethics, addresses 40th international conference of data protection and privacy commissioners

Speaking to an audience of global Data Protection Authorities in the capstone session of the 40th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, WPF Executive Director Pam Dixon discussed the central importance that data should be used for a public good, and must above all, should not create harm. Referencing her extensive peer-reviewed research

Sep 26 2018

India’s Supreme Court delivers long-awaited Aadhaar decision

India’s Supreme Court has released its consequential decision in the Aadhaar case. We will be writing much more about this consequential decision in the days and years to come. The decision is more than 1,400 pages long and contains an historically important dissent. Read the full text of the decision: Supreme Court Aadhaar Judgment 26

Sep 21 2018

WPF calls on Secretary of Homeland Security to provide formal notice and comment and address substantive concerns regarding the CBP biometric entry and exit program

The World Privacy Forum sent a detailed letter (PDF, 18 pages) September 18, 2018 to the Secretary of Homeland security outlining our substantive concerns regarding the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) biometric[1]entry and exit program. The World Privacy Forum[2]letter calls on the Secretary to provide formal

Jul 16 2018

WPF Summer & Fall 2018 Privacy Events

WPF will be speaking and/or participating in the following events this summer and fall. Please join us, or let us know if you will be attending. Global Forum on Artificial Intelligence, Swiss Re Center for Global Dialogue, 9-10 July 2018. Zurich, Switzerland. Pam Dixon, WPF Executive Director, delegate. Europlace International Financial Forum, 11-12 July 2018.

Report: The Geography of Medical Identity Theft

This new WPF report finds that medical identity theft is still a crime that causes great harms to its victims, and that it is growing overall in the United States; however, there’s a catch. The national consumer complaint data suggests that the crime is growing at different rates in different states and regions of the US, creating medical identity theft “hotspots.” These hotspots are important for patients, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders to know about so as to address potential risks.
A Failure to Do No Harm: India’s Aadhaar biometric ID program

WPF has conducted original research on India's Aadhaar, a national biometric ID system, including field research in India during 2010-2014. WPF has published the original research in a peer-reviewed journal, Nature-Springer, and in Harvard-based Journal of Technology Science. The research found that systemic challenges to data protection and privacy exist in the Aadhaar system, challenges which do have potential remedies. Key lessons can be learned for both the US and the EU as biometric systems grow in popularity.
National IDs Around the World — Interactive map

About this Data Visualization: This interactive map displays the presence...