The Fraudian Slip Podcast ITRC - What Are Biometrics? Concerns and Solutions Explained

Show Transcript

Welcome to The Fraudian Slip, the Identity Theft Resource Center’s (ITRC) podcast, where we talk about all things identity compromise, crime and fraud that impact people and businesses. Listen on Apple, Google, Spotify, SoundCloud, Audible, and Amazon now. In this month’s episode (part 1 of a two-part series), we look at biometrics. What are biometrics? Are the concerns justified? Are there solutions to the conflict over biometrics?

Do us a favor. Close your eyes. (No peeking.) What is the first image that comes to mind when we say “biometrics?” Do you think of Captain Kirk using a retina scanner in Star Trek or maybe Benji Dunn walking past a gate scanner in Mission Impossible?

Maybe you thought of the NCIS team waiting for a computer search of photos to match with an unknown suspect or victim. Perhaps you even thought of opening your phone with a fingerprint or face.

All of these versions of biometrics, in real life or Hollywood, inform how we view this technology. However, not all technology and not all uses are created equal. There are legitimate concerns about certain uses of biometrics, and there are uses that are beneficial. The trick is to know which is which.

In Part 1 of this two-part series for The Fraudian Slip, we try to sort the facts from science fiction. Helping us do that is Stephen Smith, Sr. Vice President of Intellectual Technology, Inc. (ITI), a company that provides software to motor vehicle agencies to increase the speed, visibility and security of transactions. Smith is joined by the ITRC’s own President and CEO, Eva Velasquez.

We talked with Stephen Smith about the following:

• What are biometrics?
• What concerns about biometrics are justified?

We talked with Eva Velasquez about the following:

• What is the big deal about biometrics?
• What is the solution to the conflict over biometrics?

To learn more about ITI, visit www.intellectualtechnologyinc.com

Contact the ITRC

If you think you have been the victim of an identity crime or want to avoid becoming a victim, you can speak with an expert advisor on the phone (888.400.5530), chat live on the web or send us an email during our normal business hours (6 a.m.-5 p.m. PST Monday-Friday). Just visit www.idtheftcenter.org to get started.

We will be back next week with a new episode of our sister podcast, the Weekly Breach Breakdown, and next month with Part 2 of our discussion on the pros and cons of biometrics used to verify someone’s identity.