Biometrics and Smart Cards in Identity Management

The introduction of the electronic passport by governments around the world marks a major step in the use of biometrics. In fact, the electronic passport, or e-passport for short, combines the use of three important technologies for identification: biometrics, smartcards and radio frequency identification (RFID). Smartcards – increasingly often RFID-enabled – are already commonplace in our everyday lives, and the use of biometrics is expected to grow significantly. Apart from being a potential user of these technologies for e-government services, the government also plays an important role as facilitator and regulator of these technologies. This chapter discusses the technologies of biometrics and (RFID-enabled) smartcards and their use in electronic passports, and reflects on the introduction of e-passports, and the surrounding issues regarding security and the shift in the balance of power between citizen and government. It concludes with a critical review from the privacy perspective.