Biometric acceptance grows as some favor chip implants

The convenience of using biometrics for ID verification outweighs any concerns over lax security methods when using biometric-enabled smartcards, according to a new survey. A global survey of consumer attitudes to using biometrics found a 5 percent increase in people who favor the use of biometrics as a preferred method of identity verification. Some 10 percent of individuals in the Asia-Pacific region would even prefer a chip implanted in their body. The survey, conducted by Unisys, surveyed 1,661 people globally. Convenience, according to 83 percent of respondents, was the main reason for using biometrics on a smartcard and three quarters said speedy verification is the main driver for biometric adoption. Supporters of biometrics were mainly in the North American region (71 percent) followed by Europe (69 percent) and the Asia-Pacific region, where respondents showed a 68 percent approval rating.