Biometrics Institute continues work on proposed Privacy Trust Mark

The Biometrics Institute has been working with Lockstep Consulting on a proposed Privacy Trust Mark since early 2015 and stage two of the project, exploring a set of initial technical criteria sufficient to pilot the proposal, was recently completed.

The first stage provided a feasibility and landscape study as well as a roadmap for implementation which confirmed strong support for such a mark.

Lockstep was also engaged to do stage two of the project and delivered a proposal for an initial self-assessed Trust Mark with a future pathway to an externally assessed and open standards-based accreditation scheme.

“As a peak industry association, we have a key responsibility in educating people about the convenience and security biometrics can offer and in raising awareness of best-practice around the responsible use of biometrics,” said The Hon Terry Aulich, Head of the Biometrics Institute Privacy Expert Group. “This work towards a Privacy Trust Mark builds on our previous work on the Biometrics Institute Privacy Guidelines and the Biometrics Institute Privacy Awareness Checklist.”

The next stage of the project will be a small set of trials using the proposed self-assessment criteria to test the viability of the draft questionnaire and evaluation process.

“This project is very exciting as it will help us work out how the process could work later and importantly, what needs to be in place in order to effectively manage and govern such a trust mark” says Isabelle Moeller, Chief Executive of the Biometrics Institute. “Several of our members have already expressed an interest in participating in a trial which could potentially lead to the issuance of a pending Trust Mark.”

The project ultimately aims to deliver a mechanism by which businesses can provide assurance to consumers that they meet an accepted standard of good privacy practice and therefore can reasonably protect biometric information collected and/or used.

The trust mark is intended to be applicable internationally and be broadly compatible across jurisdictions.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  Biometrics Institute  |  data collection  |  data protection  |  Isabelle Moeller  |  LockStep Group  |  privacy  |  standards  |  Trust Mark