Outrage: British Schools Using Thumb-Scanners to Store Kids' Fingerprints...

[bombayofpigs]

looks like big brother is in the UK as well...


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...363068,00.html

[Terr]

It looks like they think it is okay becuase the thumbprints themselves are not stored, only a code? Aw, cmon! That doesn't hold any air unless they transfer the image information to a string identifier through some process which is only one-way, which I doubt. I think the issue of not alerting parents is certainly noteworthy.

[LoggOff]

of cource bog brother is in the UK, its a very popular TV show here

[ammo]

Fingerprint scanners do not hold a complete image of the fingerprints in a database or even memory. When scanned, a series of unique points of the fingerprint is selected and mathematical "hash" is constructed from those points. There is no way to reconstruct the fingerprint from what is stored in the database...

(Example from digitalPersona's U are U fingerprint recongnition devices FAQ: http://www.digitalpersona.com/Support/PrivacyFAQs.html)

In Quebec, the University of Montreal's gym center uses hand morphology recongnition (for those who wish to use it) so users don't have to carry ID or a magnetic card to pass the gates. Most use it and like it, nobody complains.

People always jump to conclusion without even investigating the facts.

Ammo

[-=[JEBUS]=-]

big brother is a popular tv show here in england, but personally i think it sucks.

[Terr]

Originally posted here by ammo
Fingerprint scanners do not hold a complete image of the fingerprints in a database or even memory. When scanned, a series of unique points of the fingerprint is selected and mathematical "hash" is constructed from those points. There is no way to reconstruct the fingerprint from what is stored in the database...

Okay, okay, fine, they use that technique you referenced which is one-way.

Whatever the case, it's still a privacy concern, whether or not your fingerprint patterns can be reverse-engineered/bruteforced/etc.

[rcgreen]

http://www.spy.org.uk/1984.htm

[bombayofpigs]

that book is as scary today as it was back then - possibly more so given the advances in technology. Not sure why this thread went neg, i thought you all had interesting points of observation, and evidence - key ingredients for a good discussion.

[|The|Specialist]

You know its funny how years later we have all that stuff except for thought survalance or atleast I don't think we have that yet.

[Wickdgin]

Hmm, I wonder how up to date their text books are?


Point being I am pretty sure there are much more importaint things for schools to spend their money on than biometrics.