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March 2000 PublicPublic AttitudesAttitudes TowardToward thethe UsesUses ofof BiometricBiometric IdentificationIdentification TechnologiesTechnologies byby GovernmentGovernment andand thethe PrivatePrivate SectorSector SummarySummary ofof SurveySurvey FindingsFindings FinalFinal Prepared for SEARCH Prepared by September 18-30, 2001 August 15-18, 2002 Opinion Research Corporation Founded 1938 TABLETABLE OFOF CONTENTSCONTENTS Page BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE....................................................................................................................... 2 SURVEY SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................................... 3 DETAILED FINDINGS........................................................................................................................................ 11 Reading Notes BIOMETRICS....................................................................................................................................................... 13 Knowledge and Experiences Fingerprinting and Finger-Imaging FOUNDATIONS................................................................................................................................................... 37 Privacy Concerns and Experiences Experience with the American Legal and Criminal Justice System Identity Fraud Awareness and Experiences ACCEPTABLE USES FOR BIOMETRICS......................................................................................................... 56 Justification of Using Biometrics in Crime Prevention Use by U.S. Law Enforcement Authorities Use by Law Enforcement Agencies Use by Government Agencies Use by Private-Sector Organizations SAFEGUARDS..................................................................................................................................................... 75 Importance of Policies to Prevent Misuse PROJECTIONS..................................................................................................................................................... 86 Benefits vs. Concerns about Providing Identifiers Likelihood of Adopting Safeguards to Protect Privacy Likelihood of All Americans Having a Biometric ID on File by End of the Decade SUMMARY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING ATTITUDES TOWARD THE USE OF BIOMETRICS............95 APPENDIX............................................................................................................................................................ 107 Methodology Notes on sampling error and significance testing Questionnaire Public Attitudes Toward the Uses of Biometric Technologies 1 BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND ANDAND PURPOSEPURPOSE This report report presents presents the findings the of telephonefindings surveys of telephone conducted September surveys 18-30, conducted 2001 and August September15-18, 2002 among 18-30, national 2001 probability and samplesAugust of 15-18,1017 and 20021046 adults, among respectively, national 18 years of age and older, living in private households in the continental United States. The 2002 study was probabilityintended to examine samples if there had of been1017 shifts and in 1046public opinionadults, as therespectively, nation moved further 18 years away from of agethe attacks and of older, September living 11. in private households in the continental United States. The 2002 study was intended to examine if there had been shiftsSEARCH, in actingpublic with opinion Dr. Alan Westin, as the a well-respected nation moved expert furtheron issues of away privacy from and the the use of attackspersonal information, of September commissioned 11. Opinion Research Corporation International (ORC International) to conduct this research. The primary purpose of the studies is to assess public attitudes toward the SEARCH,use of biometrics acting for identifying with Dr. persons Alan moreWestin, accurately a well-respected and for helping to prevent expert crimes on such issues as ofidentity privacy theft. and the use of personal information, commissioned Opinion Research Corporation International (ORC International) to conduct this research. The primary purpose of the studies is to assess public attitudes toward the use of biometrics for identifying persons more accurately and for helping to prevent crimes such as identity theft. Public Attitudes Toward the Uses of Biometric Technologies 2 SURVEYSURVEY SUMMARYSUMMARY OVERVIEWOVERVIEW BothBoth immediatelyimmediately after after 9/11 and9/11 nearly and a nearly year later, a yearthere islater, substantial there support is substantial for using biometrics support as for using biometrics as both an identification and crime prevention tool. However,both an identification the strength and crime of that prevention support tool. has However, eroded the somewhat strength of that as supportevidenced has eroded by the decreasingsomewhat as evidenced proportion by the of decreasing American proportion adults whoof American believe adults specific who believe uses of specific biometrics uses of arebiometrics very justifiedare very justified and by and a slightby a slight increase increase in in thethe proportion proportion who who believe believe the use theof biomet- use ofric biometrictechniques would techniques not be limited would solely not to be anti-terrorist limited solely work. to anti-terrorist work. This subtle shift in attitudes appears to conform with other research which also suggestsThis subtle ashift reemergence in attitudes appears of privacy/civil to conform with liberty other research concerns which as alsothe suggests events aof reemer- Septembergence of privacy/civil 2001 recede liberty concerns further as into the eventsmemory. of September 2001 recede further into memory. KNOWLEDGE OF AND EXPERIENCE WITH BIOMETRICS KNOWLEDGE OF AND EXPERIENCE WITH BIOMETRICS Read a detailed description of biometrics, one-half of American adults report that they have previously Readheard ofa detailedbiometric identificationdescription techniques. of biometrics, The question one-half wording of American was: adults report that they have previously heard of biometric identification techniques. The question wording was: “To identify persons more accurately for many purposes to prevent crimes such as identity thefts, a “Toscientific identify procedure persons called more biometrics accurately has been fordeveloped. many purposesSome types to of preventbiometrics crimesuse permanent such asphysical identity characteristics, thefts, a scientificsuch as eye procedure or voice patterns called or facial biometrics features. hasOther been types developed.use a person’s Somebehavior, types such ofas thebiometrics way they sign use their permanent name or type physical words. characteristics,The way this works suchis that as a person’s eye or voicefeature patternsis obtained, or with facial their features. cooperation. Other It is converted types use into a a person’s mathematical behavior, formula, andsuch stored as the in waya computer. they sign When their someone’s name identity or type is towords. be verified The – wayfor example, this works to access is that a computer a person’s system feature is obtained, with their cooperation. It is converted into a mathematical formula,with personal and medical stored information in a computer. – their biometric When featuresomeone’s is obtained identity at that is point to be and verified compared – to forthe formulaexample, stored to inaccess the database. a computer Before thissystem survey, with have personal you ever read medical or heard information about any of these– theirbiometric biometric techniques?” feature is obtained at that point and compared to the formula stored in the database. Before this survey, have you ever read or heard about any of these biometric techniques?” Public Attitudes Toward the Uses of Biometric Technologies 3 SURVEYSURVEY SUMMARYSUMMARY (continued) ContraryContrary to to expectations, expectations, the proportion the proportion of adults who of sayadults they whoare aware say ofthey biometrics are aware has remained of biometricsstable from September has remained 2001 (52%) stable to August from 2002September (49%), well 2001 within (52%) the surveys’ to August margin 2002 of error. (49%),This suggests well withinthat while the there surveys’ has been margin a decided of increase error. in Thismedia suggests coverage ofthat biometrics while therein the past hasyear, been awareness a decided among theincrease general publicin media of biometric coverage identifiers of biometrics as a distinct, in currently the past available year, awarenesstechnology has among not spread the beyond general those public aware ofof thebiometric techniques identifiers a year ago. as a distinct, currently available technology has not spread beyond those aware of the techniquesMen, whites, adultsa year living ago. in the West and more affluent and better-educated adults are more likely than average to report awareness of biometric techniques. Men, whites, adults living in the West and more affluent and better-educated adultsThere is are some more evidence likely that than the use average of biometric to reportidentification awareness is increasing of biometric somewhat. Among all techniques.adults, including those who are unaware of biometric techniques, 5% provided characteristics in 2002, compared with 3% in 2001. Among those aware of the techniques, one in ten (11%, up from 5% in There is some evidence that the use of biometric identification is increasing