1) The document discusses a European consumer survey on attitudes toward biometric technology, which authenticates people using physical characteristics like fingerprints, face, iris, and veins. 2) The majority of citizens across European countries support using biometrics to identify criminals and authenticate identity cards/passports. 3) However, fewer than half of European citizens favor replacing bank PIN numbers with biometrics due to privacy concerns over this highly innovative technology.

1. BIOMETRICS: HOW FAR ARE
WE PREPARED TO GO?
A EUROPEAN CONSUMER SURVEY
BIOMETRICS:
AUTHENTICATING PEOPLE BY THEIR PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDING FINGERPRINTS,
FACE, IRIS AND VEINS
Growing use of highly innovative technology across Europe
“Biometric technology is increasingly used to support a diverse
range of tasks, but many citizens are still wary of adopting this
technology in their everyday lives due to concerns around privacy”,
says Ole Marius Steinkjer, from Steria’s Biometrics Centre
of Excellence.
HOW CAN BIOMETRICS HELP US?
FRENCH
ARE THE MOST
IN FAVOUR
BY IDENTIFYING CRIMINALS
Supported by the majority of citizens
1.
BRITISH
81%
GERMANS
2.
of citizens are in favour
of the use of biometrics
to identify criminals
89%
80%
1.
BY AUTHENTICATING PEOPLE…
69%
of respondents across
Europe support the
use of biometrics in identity cards
or passports
3.
77%
2.
81%
3.
73%
DANES
of FRENCH citizens
are in favour of this
application
68%
BRITISH
... TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY
The most important reason for using biometric ID cards or passports:
80
70
60
54%
1.
SECURITY AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT
2.
REDUCING CRIME
3.
SIMPLIFYING
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
50
40
12%
30
20
10
only
4%
0
1.
2.
3.
BY ENTERING SECURE AREAS
FRENCH
1.
DANES
69%
are also in favour
of using biometrics
to enter secure areas
BRITISH
2.
75%
77%
3.
69%
BY SECURING YOUR ASSETS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
52%
44%
44%
43%
41%
FRENCH
SWEDISH
BUT ONLY of European citizens
45% are in favour of the
use of biometrics to
replace PIN numbers
for bank cards
BRITISH NORWEGIANS GERMANS
About this research:
Steria surveyed 3,650 citizens from the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The research was conducted by Toluna on behalf of Steria in June 2013.
Find more information on steria.com
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