Category Archives: Biometrics

Over two years ago, in our annual year in preview series, we noted that while only three states had passed laws specifically dealing with the protection of biometric information, other states were considering following their lead.  But even as biometric technology has continued to advance, state legislatures have remained cautious about enacting privacy legislation directed specifically at the protection of biometric information.  As of now,… More

As Massachusetts lawmakers consider whether to legalize sports betting, professional athletes fear that their biometric data – which can be collected and analyzed as part of their training – could become a commodity in this form of gambling. Professional sports leagues say that they have no plans to make this data available for gamblers, but the use of biometric data from wearable health devices is not covered by health privacy laws.… More

Can a fingerprint alone provide “testimony” about a person?  Earlier this month, a federal court in California said yes.  But the court was not engaging in a highly-localized form of palm-reading; rather, the question arose in the ever-evolving field of how to balance law enforcement needs and individual citizens’ privacy interests as new technologies emerge.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California has been a hotspot for privacy-related litigation,… More

Editors’ Note:  This is the fifth in a multi-part end-of-year series examining important trends in data privacy and cybersecurity during the coming year.  Previous installments include analyses of HIPAA compliance, emerging security threats, federal enforcement trends, and state enforcement trends.  Up next:  Education.

The term “biometrics” may conjure up images of Gattaca or Minority Report,… More