Biometric ID: 'Will work, will happen and will be popular'

The company behind the biometric technology being used by the UK passport office says biometric IDs will happen - and they will happen with the blessing of the majority of UK citizens.

NEC technology is being used by the UK government in the roll-out of biometric IDs and, having already been involved in similar schemes worldwide, the company is confident that the UK implementation will be a success despite vocal opposition from "a noisy minority".

Carl Gohringer, head of product development for NEC security solutions, said biometric passports are far better than anything we have now and have nowhere near the same exposure to fraudulent use or forgery.

However, he accepted there is a negligible risk attached - as with anything. "Of course there is no such thing as a fool-proof technology," he said. "But why wait for a fool-proof technology which will never happen, if in the meantime you are continuing to use an inadequate system."

Gohringer said the fact that passports can currently be acquired with no face-to-face interaction between the applicant and the passport office, and require a verification method as simplistic as a photograph signed by a friend, highlights the inefficiency of the current system.

The roll-out won't be without problems, according to Gohringer, but he anticipates that the problems will owe far more to the complicated logistics of getting everybody signed up than to the issue of end-user opposition.

"People need to realise this is not going to harm them -- if anything it is going to be beneficial to them," he said.

However, Gohringer believes that those opposed to the systems are actually a very vocal minority, making enough noise to get themselves noticed.

He cited recent research – supported by that conducted by silicon.com – which shows strong support for biometric identification.

And it's not just the passport office that will be making good use of biometrics.

"The NHS is very keen on this," said Gohringer, citing an example whereby biometrics would be an ideal way to stop people previously been struck off by another health authority getting jobs in the health sector.

While they may be able to forge documents and change their name, a central ID database means their biometrics will always betray who they really are – regardless of who they say they are.

A number of scandals in recent years have undermined the credibility of current vetting procedures for public-sector workers and Gohringer believes that biometrics is the additional layer of authentication required.