The standard, ISO/IEC 24714, Biometrics – Cross-jurisdictional and societal aspects of biometrics – General guidance, offers guidance on the design of systems that use biometric technologies.
It covers societal norms and legal requirements across various levels of jurisdictions, privacy and data protection of individuals, accessibility and usability. It also covers health and safety requirements.
The standard, created by an IEC/ISO joint committee, is based on the technical report ISO/IEC TR 24714-1:2008 and includes the addition of by design principles as well as use case examples.
The standard’s editor Fred Preston said there are many factors that designers and developers of biometrics systems need to take into account to ensure they are safe, accessible and fit for the intended purpose.
“Privacy is one of the biggest and most complex issues confronting the biometrics industry, as while on one hand it demands less personal information such as addresses or family history, the data collected is more directly linked to the subject, and is so for life,” said Preston.
“By considering all aspects of privacy, safety, local laws, societal expectations and accessibility, the likelihood of the technology being accepted and trusted ultimately improves. This in turn helps to increase its performance and enables the technology to evolve and grow.”