A state hearing on helmed by Texas’ House State Affairs Committee has helped to highlight the importance of biometric identification to security authorities. Speaking at one of the hearings, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw explained how a seemingly minor amendment to state legislation has hindered the DPS from identifying criminals.
The legislation in question is House Bill 1888, a measure primarily concerned with penalties for drivers without licenses, but amended in a way that compelled the DPS to delete from its databases full sets of fingerprints, opting instead for single thumb or forefinger prints. McCraw decried the measure, expressing his certainty that it has made it harder for DPS officials to identify potential criminals, since fingerprint biometrics offers “a great tool” for identification, and adding that with a full set of ten prints, “there is no question” of identity.
According to The Texas Tribune, the amendment had been implemented over privacy concerns. As such, McCraw’s testimony offers ammunition to those government officials who are enthusiastic about the benefits of biometric identification as they debate those who are more cautious with respect to privacy and civil liberties. Commenting on the testimony, State Affairs Chairman Byron Cook said that it indicated that such concerns are “counterproductive for public safety,” adding that the public “have to decide whether they want more safety or whether they are more concerned about a privacy issue.”
Source: The Texas Tribune
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December 11, 2015 – by Alex Perala
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