Absolutely. The CCPA, or California Consumer Privacy Act, provides Californians with enhanced privacy rights and consumer protection. One of its key protections pertains to biometric privacy.
Under the CCPA, biometric data—such as fingerprints, retina scans, and facial recognition patterns—are considered personal information. As such, businesses must handle this data with care, ensuring transparency about collection methods, purposes, and storage procedures. Consumers have the right to know about the collection of their biometric data, to decline its sale, and even request its deletion.
What Are Some Common Privacy Concerns Connected With Biometrics?
Biometrics, while offering convenience and added security in many applications, also brings about several privacy concerns:
Data Breaches
Biometric data is perceived as one of the pinnacles of security, with many businesses and individuals alike considering it a foolproof method of identification. However, like all digital data, biometric information is susceptible to hacks and breaches.
The primary difference between biometric data and other kinds of personal information is its permanence: unlike a password or an account number, you can’t change inherent physical traits like your fingerprint, iris, or facial structure. When this data is compromised, it becomes a long-term vulnerability. Cybercriminals can potentially misuse this data for identity theft, unauthorized access to secured facilities, or even blackmail.
Unintended Use
The digital age thrives on data, and biometric information is among the most valuable. While you might provide your facial scan or fingerprint for a specific service, such as unlocking a phone or accessing an office, concerns arise about how this data might be repurposed.
For instance, a company could potentially use facial recognition data gathered for security purposes to analyze customer behaviors or preferences without explicit consent. Worse still, there’s the looming fear of such data being used for unauthorized surveillance, either by businesses or governments.
Immigration Implications
With the U.S. government increasing its use of biometric data for immigration and visa processing, there’s a growing concern about how this data might affect one’s immigration status, application, or proceedings. This is especially true when there are discrepancies or issues with the biometric data collected.
For those in California, consulting with a California immigration attorney can provide clarity on how biometric data might impact their immigration matters and offer guidance on ensuring one’s rights and information are protected during the process.
Permanent Data
One of the most significant concerns surrounding biometrics is their permanence. Unlike account histories or digital communication, which can be deleted or modified, biometric data remains constant. If a company retains this data indefinitely, long past its actual utility, it becomes a lingering risk.
What happens if the company goes bankrupt? Or if they update their privacy policies to be less user-friendly? The extended storage of unchangeable, personal biometric data poses a series of ethical and practical dilemmas.
Third-Party Sharing
In today’s interconnected digital ecosystem, data rarely stays in one place. Businesses routinely share or sell user data to third parties, often for legitimate reasons like enhancing services or for marketing analytics. However, when it comes to biometric data, the stakes are significantly higher.
Sharing a user’s facial recognition data or fingerprints without clear, informed consent isn’t just an invasion of privacy; it’s a potential security risk. If these third parties don’t have stringent security measures in place, or if they use the data maliciously, the individual whose data is shared is left vulnerable to a myriad of threats.
Authentication Errors
No technology is foolproof, and biometrics is no exception. There are two main types of errors that can occur with biometric systems: false acceptance and false rejection. False acceptance means an unauthorized person is granted access, while false rejection means a legitimate user is denied access.
Both can have serious implications. For instance, false acceptance in a security system can lead to breaches. However, false rejection in medical settings can prevent patients from receiving timely care.
Physical Harm and Theft
Biometric data isn’t just vulnerable in the digital realm. There have been instances worldwide where criminals have physically harmed people to bypass biometric security. This ranges from using a person’s hand to access a fingerprint-locked device to more gruesome acts. The very fact that one’s body can become a target for data theft is a disturbing concern in the realm of biometrics.
Bias and Discrimination
Not all biometric systems are created equal, and some have shown biases based on race, gender, or age. For instance, facial recognition systems might struggle to accurately identify people from certain ethnic backgrounds, leading to erroneous outcomes. This can result in unintentional discrimination and can have serious repercussions, especially in areas like law enforcement or border control.
Dependency and Over-reliance
As businesses and individuals increasingly rely on biometrics, there’s a risk of becoming overly dependent on this technology. Over-reliance can make systems vulnerable, especially if they lack a secondary means of identification or authentication. If the biometric system fails, it might halt essential services or lock out users entirely.
Loss of Anonymity
In an age where people are becoming more cautious about their digital footprints, biometrics can obliterate personal anonymity. Whether it’s facial recognition cameras scanning crowds or fingerprint data being used to track individual movements, biometrics can make it challenging for individuals to keep a low profile or move about without being identified.
By understanding these concerns, both individuals and organizations can make more informed decisions about the use and implementation of biometric technologies. As with any technology, the key is to strike a balance between convenience and privacy, ensuring that personal rights and safety are always prioritized.
How Are Biometrics Privacy Violations Remedied?
The CCPA also allows consumers to sue businesses for statutory damages of $100 to $750 per consumer per incident or actual damages, whichever is greater, if their personal information is subject to unauthorized access, theft, or disclosure as a result of the business’s intentional violation of the duty to implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and practices.
The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), which was passed by voters in 2020, amends and expands the CCPA by creating a new category of “sensitive personal information” that includes biometric information used for the purpose of uniquely identifying a consumer. The CPRA gives consumers the right to limit the use and disclosure of their sensitive personal information and to correct or delete their personal information.
The CPRA also established a new agency, the California Privacy Protection Agency, to enforce the law and impose administrative fines of up to $7,500 for each violation or up to $15,000 for each violation involving a minor’s personal information.
The California Labor Code, which applies to employers and employees, prohibits employers from obtaining fingerprints or photographs from employees and then sharing this information with a third party unless authorized by law. Violation of this law is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
In addition to these laws, there is a proposed bill, SB 1189, that would introduce more specific and stringent rules for biometric information, similar to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
SB 1189 would require private entities to obtain written consent from individuals before collecting, using, or disclosing their biometric information and to provide a written policy for the retention and destruction of biometric information. SB 1189 would also prohibit private entities from selling, leasing, trading, or profiting from biometric information or using it for advertising purposes.
SB 1189 would allow individuals to sue private entities for statutory damages of $1,000 for each negligent violation, or $5,000 for each intentional or reckless violation, or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
As you can see, biometric privacy violations are remedied in various ways in California, depending on the law that applies and the nature of the violation. However, these laws are still evolving and may change in the future. If you have any questions or concerns about your biometric privacy rights, you should consult a qualified California attorney.
Should I Hire a Lawyer to Help With Biometric Privacy Laws?
If you believe your biometric data rights have been violated or if you have concerns regarding your privacy, it’s advisable to seek legal counsel. Connect with a knowledgeable California employment lawyer through LegalMatch. Our platform offers an efficient way to find experienced attorneys tailored to your needs, ensuring you have the best representation to protect your rights.
