Smart cities are quickly integrating specific biometric technologies into different aspects of life to boost efficiency plus security feels Bahaa Al Zubaidi. Applications like fingerprint scanning, facial recognition, and iris recognition, provide promising answers for tasks that range from personal services to public safety.
Nonetheless, the broad use of biometrics sparks clear concerns about data safety and privacy. If biometrics is to work in public life, smart cities must ensure there is stringent safety for citizens.
Aspects of Privacy
A crucial aspect of making sure of privacy in biometric technologies and applications is getting informed consent. When biometric data is collected, cities should communicate the scope, purpose, and duration of the collection of data. Every citizen should have the right to choose not to have exposure to such systems without any disadvantage or discrimination. This is how trust in people is enforced.
Additionally, secure storage and data encryption are vital to protect biometric data/information from access by unauthorized parties. Smart cities may use particular techniques for encryption like homomorphic encryption to enable data processing while making sure that the original data is kept inaccessible. Governments and cybersecurity experts can collaborate to make cities safer.
Mitigating Misuse
Biometric technologies should be stringently used for intended purposes and reasons only. A framework should be used to ensure that only authorized personnel gain access to sensitive information. Strict and disciplinary action should be taken against breaches of data.
The implementation of de-identification methods can go a long way to enhance protection. By changing biometric data into identifiers that are anonymous, the probability of identifying people is reduced, ensuring that the data stays pseudonymous for use cases.
Frequent Audits
Rigorous and frequent biometric system audits must be undertaken to check if biometric technologies are working properly. They should always be in compliance with regulatory bodies to ensure privacy. Apart from this, citizens must have channels to report any concerns and file complaints.
Biometrics Used Efficiently
In any smart city, it is of paramount importance to educate the public. Awareness and education can be generated through effective campaigns to inform citizens about the ethical and responsible use of biometric technologies. They should also be educated about the risks involved in the use of biometrics, as well as their rights and calls to action they may employ. If technology and smart cities have to be effective in the daily life of citizens, they should be employed with morality and ethics. The priority of smart cities is, after all, keeping people who live in them safe beyond all measure.
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