An assessment model for the use of biometrics

New technology all too often confronts us with strategic problems because the unintended counter-productive side effects of project implementation do not always become apparent until it is too late. Therefore, a more systematic and anticipatory approach is needed. For this purpose a flexible assessment model is presented and applied to the biometrics on passports and identity cards (so-called passport biometrics). This approach has been decided upon by the European Council to combat identity fraud. The analysis shows that the assessment model can be a useful tool and relates to one of the most important aspects of social processes: whom exactly are we dealing with? If biometrics is used with a view to improving identity checking procedures we do not want to be confronted with counter-productive effects. This can prove to be a real challenge!