Episode 139 — Biometrics & Privacy

Tech giants have invented eyeglasses that can tell us the name of a person we encounter. An image of the person is sent to an AI database. Within seconds, the glasses name the individual we are seeing. Retinal scans, fingerprints, photos posted on Facebook, Fitbit data about heart rate – all represent biometric information about us that is digitized and sent into the data stream.

Imagine how useful such eyeglasses will be to visually impaired persons. The convenience and security of biometric data in making purchases or getting through airline security – undeniable. But also imagine how an authoritarian government or mal-actor can use biometric information teamed with AI to follow and target us. Is privacy dead? Has biometric AI gone too far?

Tune in to Episode 139 for a tour of these profound issues. What are biometrics and how do biometric data get turned into products and services for good and ill? What laws and regulations protect and restrict biometric use? Who owns an individual’s image? Can others access our data without our consent? What can organizations and individuals do about this? Dan Cotter, attorney at Howard & Howard, discusses these matters with the Detective in Episode 139.

Time stamps:

03:20 — Do current laws have protections for people's biometric data? 06:50 — Do we own our own biometric data? 11:05 — Tips for individuals 13:31 — What are the top issues that arise for organizations that use biometric info?