Expert & Sector Groups

Group objectives:

The Biometrics Institute Security & Integrity Expert Group focuses on issues relating to security for biometric systems from a technical perspective. The group aims to:

• Develop guidance and advice to help members make more informed decisions around biometric security and integrity
• Address challenges that potentially compromise the security of a system including biometric vulnerabilities and social engineering
• Define what technical steps and operating procedures are needed to ensure integrity and security
• Liaise with other Biometrics Institute committee groups to ensure issues around security and integrity are adequately addressed and integrated (i.e. secure data handling would be addressed with the Privacy Expert Group)

Subgroup of BSIEG: Biometrics Vulnerability Assessment Expert Group/Response Team (BVAEG)

The Biometrics Vulnerability Assessment Expert Group is a subgroup within the BSIEG, who understand the technical and business implications of biometric breaches or vulnerabilities. They will:

• Respond as quickly as possible to the Institute to address any major biometric breaches or vulnerabilities that are detected
• Provide either a public, or members only, statement about the situation and mitigations that the Institute’s chief executive, as the organisation’s spokesperson, would disseminate

 To find out more, please email: manager@biometricsinstitute.org.

Group objectives:

The Privacy & Policy Expert Group focuses on issues related to the impact of biometrics on the public, including:

• Promoting the responsible and ethical use of biometrics
• Developing guidelines to help members make an informed decision about biometrics
• The group is working according to the precept that, despite the need to be compliant with the specific requirements of national jurisdictions, the group’s approach is truly international. Technologies such as biometrics operate across national boundaries and the operation of this group reflects that internationalism.

 To find out more, please email: manager@biometricsinstitute.org.

Group objectives:

The Digital Identity Group focuses on issues relating to digital identity policies, frameworks, programmes and technologies, insofar as these relate to or intersect with biometric technologies. It aims to:

• Develop guidance and advice to help members make more informed decisions around biometric usage in digital identity
• Address challenges that arise in digital identity and how biometric technology relates to these challenges (for example by helping to address the challenge, or sharing similar implementation challenges)
• Assess current issues, concerns and advancements surrounding digital identity, with particular focus on the areas that intersect with biometric technologies such as onboarding, authentication, identity, multiple and/or stolen identities, and identity centralisation vs self-sovereignty.
• Liaise with other Biometrics Institute committee groups to ensure issues around digital identity and biometrics are adequately addressed and integrated with the work of other groups (e.g. privacy and policy setting has a clear intersection with the PEG; technical issues around digital identity and biometric security intersect with the BSIEG)

To find out more, please email manager@biometricsinstitute.org.

Group objectives

The Future Direction Group acts as a steering group which monitors developments (risks and opportunities) that are likely to impact the biometrics community.  It will try to reimagine the future of biometrics and define gaps which the institute may be able to address through good practice development, a potential stamp of approval, training and other initiatives. Like the other groups, it will contribute to the establishment of a voice of impartial and authoritative knowledge.

It will initially monitor four focus areas but will revise these as and when needed: policy, technology, applications and education:

• Policy: Consider statutory, regulatory, policy, privacy, civil rights/civil liberties concerns
• Technology: Identify new technology before it becomes available on the market, suggest areas for exploration through science and technology, assess risks and opportunities and suggest strategies/mitigation to offset risk
• Applications: Identify new applications and appropriations of biometrics as they emerge. Provide thought leadership about the effect this might have on society, industry and consumers and assess where biometrics might elsewhere be useful.
• Education: Identify training and education needs

To find out more, please email manager@biometricsinstitute.org.

Group objectives:

This group has been set up to create even closer engagement between the research community and the broader biometrics industry. Its focus is to:

• Provide greater visibility and offer opinion on current research
• To serve as an influential channel for relevant developments from the research community to be communicated to industry, government and the public

To find out more or to join the group, please email manager@biometricsinstitute.org.  

Group objectives:

The Borders and Major Travel Programmes Group is a user group focusing on the significant challenges faced by border agencies today. The group serves to:

• Create an open forum for decision-makers to share information and ideas relating to major border system projects.
• Facilitate off-the-record dialogue between border and related agencies around key issues and developments in the use of biometrics in this sector. Meetings are not recorded.

To join the group, please email manager@biometricsinstitute.org. This group is for border agency officers only.