Leaks show security flaws in Israeli biometric database project

Documents mistakenly leaked by the Israeli Ministry of Justice show a significant security flaw in the biometric database system set to be deployed in the coming weeks.

Reported in Haaretz.com, the leaked documents show emails and correspondence for the database project, which indicate that security breaches are possible.

Included in the leaked documents is a letter from the acting head of the Israeli Law, Information and Technology Authority, in which she says that she couldn’t be sure the system was ready to withstand security violations, as the Authority was able to breach part of the biometric system’s security. According to the Haaretz report, security firm Comsec was also able to perform the breach.

Reported previously, the biometric database pilot project is set to begin in the next coming weeks.

There has long been debate about Israel’s database project. The Israel High Court of Justice earlier this year held a hearing on a petition to annul a law that would establish a governmental database and in that hearing,  justices voiced harsh criticism of the government’s preparation for the pilot program, suggesting the creation of a centralized database is an “extreme” and “harmful” measure and not a necessity to implementing smart ID cards.

According to a report in Arutz Sheva, the Interior Minister has responded by saying the breaches described in the leaked documents are not directly connected to personal data.

Article Topics

biometric database  |  e-ID  |  government  |  Israel  |  leak  |  smart card