The Register reports that the government is funding a project that may lead to a fingerprint security network being placed in the nations pubs and clubs. The technology, (dubbed the ‘InTouch’) manufactured by UK Company Creative Code, is being tested by South Somerset District Council in Yeovil. It is described as "a data sharing and finger characteristic recognition technology".
The article quotes Julia Bradburn, principal licensing manager at South Somerset District Council as saying:
"The Home Office have looked at our system and are looking at trials in other towns including Coventry, Hull & Sheffield."
The Register claims Gwent and Nottingham police have shown an interest, and that the neighboring town of Taunton is planning to install the system in 10 pubs and clubs.
Creative Code describes the benefits of its technology as follows:
"InTouch takes the form of a linked membership network which enables participating venues to make an informed choice about who they allow to enter their premises, in order to make their venue a safer and more enjoyable place to visit.
The InTouch system comprises a function which gives participating venues the opportunity to record any incidents members may be involved in. The ability to record incidents on a member’s profile allows venues to monitor the behavior of individuals involved in alcohol related crime and disorder, and also enables venues to exclude persistent offenders.
If any member has an incident posted on their profile by one venue, this will be shown on their profile when they next attempt to enter an alternative participating venue. This function will assist venues with decisions to admit or refuse entry."
Comment
In the past you would only have your fingerprint taken if you had committed (or were suspected of) a crime. Now it seems, the government views all of its citizens as potential troublemakers and criminals.
It has been suggested that the technology helps to crack down on the worst aspects of binge drinking and alcohol related violence. If that were the case, why would the fingerprinting be mandatory for all customers? The whole system is premised upon the argument that ALL citizens must surrender aspects of their identity data, in order to reduce difficulties from a worrisome minority.
The same government, encouraging the introduction fingerprinting, has recently been introducing biometric palm scanning systems into UK schools. The guidelines state that they do not need to seek parental permission to do this. (Link) Acceptance of this type of technology is thus inculcated in a generation too young to understand its implications.
Many people assume that fingerprints and biometrics automatically guarantee greater security, but this is not the case. What is to prevent someone from stealing the database upon which this information is stored? Or even, (in a more gruesome scenario) actually removing a person’s hand in order to gain access to their finger/palm print. There are many kludges, hacks, and simple human holes in the system, these will inevitably be found by those determined to do so.
Fingerprint and biometric data is far more personal than a password, it is not something that can be simply changed when it is compromised. Therefore the implications of its theft or misuse, will have serious ramifications.
Finally, what is more worrying still, is the development of a trend in which the government reserves the right to make increasingly draconian demands for the surrendering of such personal data from its citizens. We are becoming enmeshed in a web of data-tracking, profiling and surveillance that will prove increasingly difficult to escape from.
The implications of this are indeed quite frightening. Once governments have the capacity to track and spy upon citizens, to deny or allow access as they wish, they will have a truly ferocious level of coercive power. The question then becomes, who will watch the watchers and control those who have the system of control? If human history is anything to judge by, once given such absolute power, those who possess it, will find themselves corrupted by it, in ways which may prove troubling to behold.
