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Over recent years, the growing number of concerns and controversies around the use of Facial Recognition in surveillance by governments and the dearth of proper regulation has expedited to new research in biometric surveillance technology. When looking at reports, researchers have already created lasers that detect heartbeat and microbiome.

As companies will research more on new technologies associated with biometrics, they could increase the accessibility of biometrics surveillance for different use cases, such as internet log-ins, browser-based interactions with contact centers, mobile fleet control, parking space management, background checks, and many more.

What Exactly Biometric Surveillance Tech is and How It Works?

Biometrics is the measurement and statistical analysis of a person’s unique physical and behavioral characteristics. The technology is majorly utilized for identification and access control, recognizing individuals who are under surveillance.

Biometric authentication today is becoming increasingly common in corporate and public security systems, consumer electronics and point-of-sale applications. Some biometric techniques like measuring a person's gait (the way people walk), can operate with no direct contact with the person being authenticated.

Biometric Uses by Different Sectors in Different Areas

Biometrics are used in Law enforcement for criminal IDs such as fingerprint or palm print authentication systems; in Border control for electronic passports which stores fingerprint data, or in facial recognition systems; in Healthcare for national identity cards and health insurance programs which may use fingerprints for identification.

Recent Developments

Futronic, for instance, recently introduced a new biometric finger vein scanner using infrared light and a CMOS image sensor in a system, specially designed to reduce optical background noise in the vein image. China is already testing gait recognition to monitor its citizens. To do so, the country teamed up with Chinese startup Watrix and already deployed the technology for testing by Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing police.

The U.S. is also working on developing new biometric technology. A few months back, the Pentagon issued information on a laser-based system that utilizes laser doppler vibrometry that can identify a person based on his or her heartbeat. Last year, researchers from the University of California created an app that uses Wi-Fi networks to remotely detect presence and movement inside a room.

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, local agencies utilize a federal program – Operation Stonegarden – to buy surveillance technology.

The growing ubiquity of high-quality cameras, microphones and fingerprint readers in many of today's mobile devices shows biometrics continue to become a more prevalent method for authenticating users, particularly as Fast ID Online (FIDO). These rapid researches and developments in biometric surveillance technology will bring more invasive technology very soon.