Abstract

DIAZ RODRIGUEZ, Vanessa. Biometric criminal databases: a comparative study. Rev. IUS [online]. 2013, vol.7, n.31, pp.28-47. ISSN 1870-2147.

There is an increasing interest in the implementation of biometric systems for identification purposes. Biometrics is not new; and has been in use since 1858. Facial, fingerprints and iris recognition are the most common biometric systems in use. This paper is about biometric systems deployment in law enforcement. The research involves a comparative study in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain where national biometric criminal databases are operating with asymmetries among them. The paper highlights Interpol's databases because it represents the best practices of the extent of biometric criminal databases. It concludes that biometric systems pose singular challenges to privacy and data protection rights, particularly biometric criminal databases, not only at national level also at international level.

Keywords : Biometric data; biometric systems; biometric criminal databases; criminal biometric profiles.

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