NCJ Number
218869
Journal
European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 13 Issue: 1-2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 109-137
Date Published
2007
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Using a case study of the debate over the use of biometric identification within the European Union (EU), this article considers the debate between security policies and democratic ideals.
Abstract
The main argument is that the EU is emerging as a major actor for international security management and policy, which has been accompanied by attempts to further democratize the EU. Moreover, the author argues that while the role of expertise has become increasingly important for policy formation, this reliance on expertise has not resulted in a technocratic model of decisionmaking within the EU. While the strong role of experts is a key factor in the pursuit of biometric identification, the pluralism that exists within the EU balances the concerns for the importance of civil liberties and fundamental rights. The author takes up the case of biometric identification because it provides an excellent opportunity to discuss how security is defined, how democracy works in relation to security policies, and the role of expertise in the identification of security threats and policy options. Biometric technology identifies individuals through their biological or behavioral characteristics and current biometric applications are numerous, such as the regulation of migration, electronic patient records, and access to sensitive areas of public buildings. However, the debate over the use of biometric identification has been fierce, with the opposition charging that such technology can have consequences for market competition, civil liberties and fundamental rights, the legitimacy of the state, and the role of the private sector in managing personal data. Following a brief history of biometric identification in the EU, the author examines debates about whether biometrics may serve as a solution to international security problems. References