Biometrics Is Creeping Further Into New Zealand . . . Be Sure to Have Your Say

"Biometrics is a serious business because it relates to unique, and often irreplaceable, human features like a person’s face, fingerprints, voice, or how they walk," says New Zealand Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster in his latest newsletter, released today.

Biometric technologies (such as facial recognition or voice analysis) analyse biometric information to recognise who someone is, or to work out other things about them (such as their gender or mood), he says.
 
"These technologies can have major benefits, including convenience, efficiency, and security.

"However, they can also create significant risks, including risks relating to surveillance and profiling, lack of transparency and control, and accuracy, bias, and discrimination."
 
The Commissioner says the increasing role of biometric technologies in the lives of New Zealanders has led to calls for greater regulation, pointing out that other countries are also considering how best to regulate these technologies.

"Some have enacted specific regulatory frameworks for biometrics or included them in their ‘sensitive’ information categories, which give biometric information greater protection."
 
In late 2023, Webster announced that the Commission would be conducting consultations on new rules specifically for biometrics.

"We are currently developing an exposure draft for a privacy code of practice to regulate biometrics, which will propose new rules for agencies who want to collect biometric information using technologies like Facial Recognition Technology (FRT).

"Putting up an exposure draft, then hearing what people think, will tell us whether we’ve got the technical details correct and help us make further refinements."

Monitoring Foodstuffs North Island FRT Trial 

Recently, the Commissioner announced that he would use his inquiry powers to keep a close watch on Foodstuffs North Island's FRT trial. 
 

He has asked Foodstuffs North Island to provide evidence that FRT is a justified way to reduce retail crime given the privacy impacts of using shoppers’ biometric information. Foodstuffs North Island will use the data from the 25-store trial to decide whether to roll-out the technology further.

However, the Commissioner is concerned that FRT isn't a proven tool for use in this context.
 
He said Foodstuffs actions had generated significant media coverage on this issue, and "we have received a lot of emails registering people’s agreement or disagreement with the trial".

Be Notified of Feedback Opportunities

If you would like to be notified when that submission period opens, then please email biometrics@privacy.org.nz