Biometric authentication is not a new technology, though it has evolved significantly over the years. For centuries, humans have used fingerprints to identify individuals, and today, modern technology has allowed us to create sophisticated systems that use facial recognition, iris scanning, and even voice patterns to distinguish people with greater accuracy.
The biometric technology market is set to grow at an impressive rate of 20.4% from 2023 to 2030. This projection is largely based on its superiority over other authentication measures in regard to speed, security, and convenience.
So, what exactly is biometric authentication, and what’s the current consumer sentiment in today’s security landscape? As you continue reading through this article, we’ll touch on both topics in further detail and dive deeper into the future of biometric authentication.
What is Biometric Authentication?
Biometric authentication is a method for verifying users’ identities using one or more of their physical characteristics.
Instead of using a password or a PIN to log into an application, device, or network, users are prompted to scan a specific biometric trait with their device. If the real-time scan successfully matches the sample stored in the system, they will be granted access. Otherwise, their request will be denied.
Some of the most common types of biometric authentication include:
- Fingerprint scanning
- Facial recognition
- Iris scanning
- Voice identification
Biometric authentication may be combined with other types, such as passwords or physical security keys, for multi-factor authentication (MFA). This way, if one credential is compromised, fraudsters will still be unable to authenticate.
The Positive Sentiment on Biometric Authentication in 2024
For both individuals and organizations, biometric authentication is often favored over other methods because of its convenience, security, and ease of use. It’s already widely adopted by smartphone and digital wallet users, and further implementation is quickly expanding across various industries and use cases, such as healthcare and law enforcement.
In contrast, password-based authentication requires users to remember a unique code for every system and application they use in their daily lives. According to some estimates, the average desk worker now uses 11 applications to do their jobs. So, it’s easy to see how teams can lose valuable time and productivity if workers forget one of their many passwords and need to go through the reset process before gaining access.
Biometric authentication, on the other hand, directly addresses this roadblock. Since it relies on something a user inherently is, they don’t need to remember a PIN or password, making for a more seamless log-in experience. For this reason, 72% of consumers worldwide prefer facial biometrics over password-based security. In the e-commerce industry specifically, a report from PYMTS shows that 26% of online shoppers prefer biometric authentication because it makes for a faster check-out experience.
Plus, passwords can be easily compromised and lead to security breaches when they fall into the wrong hands. Statistics published by Google show that weak or leaked credentials make up nearly 62% of cloud compromise factors. In comparison, people’s biometric traits are highly unique and nearly impossible to replicate accurately, offering enhanced security. This lowers the risk of spoofing or fraud, ensuring that only rightful account holders are granted access.
The Potential Concerns of Biometric Authentication
Despite the meaningful advantages of biometric authentication, consumers have raised some potential drawbacks and concerns in recent years. Possibly the largest concern is with biometric data privacy.
Consumers want to be sure that the biometric data they share during authentication is used solely for security purposes and isn’t shared or sold with third parties without their knowledge. In addition, there is a fear that such technologies will enable constant surveillance, with scanning and monitoring occurring outside of authentication.
Luckily, such concerns can be mitigated with the use of leading biometric authentication technologies that leverage encryption and secure storage methods to keep consumer data private. Plus, as we’ll discuss in further detail below, certain pieces of legislation directly address these risks, ensuring the fair and safe use of biometric authentication.
Regulations Impacting Biometric Authentication
To date, several states in the U.S. have enacted laws that directly regulate the collection, use, storage, and sharing of biometric data. This includes:
- Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act of 2008 (BIPA)
- Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act of 2009 (CUBI)
- Washington State Biometric Privacy Law of 2017
While each of these laws has unique provisions and requirements, the overarching theme is to protect consumer privacy with biometric authentication, ensuring this sensitive data remains private and secure. There is still no national law regarding biometric authentication. However, this could change over the coming years as the technology becomes more widespread.
Future Trends for Biometric Authentication
Looking ahead, several emerging trends in biometric authentication technology will continue to take hold in the space, including:
Behavioral Biometrics
Biometrics doesn’t just refer to a person’s physical traits. It also includes a person’s distinct behavior patterns, which can be used to distinguish them from other individuals. These include someone’s unique keystroke patterns, gait, interaction with their mouse, or how they normally hold or swipe the touchscreen on their mobile device.
With advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, organizations will be able to effectively build models of expected behavior patterns of authorized users. In turn, they can quickly spot deviations or suspicious behaviors that signify potential fraud.
Liveness Detection
Unfortunately, fraudsters and cybercriminals can take advantage of emerging technologies just like the rest of us. Specifically, deep fake technology allows them to create falsified content, such as photo or video spoofs of individuals, without their knowledge.
This could mean trouble for biometric authentication, as fraudsters use these accurate replications of an authorized user to bypass security. However, liveness detection combats this, ensuring the biometric data presented to the system is from a living human being at the time of authentication. So, even as scammers’ tactics become more sophisticated, advanced capabilities like liveness detection allow organizations to stay one step ahead.
Learn More About the State of Identity Fraud in 2024
Among other benefits, biometric authentication helps prevent identity fraud by giving organizations a secure and convenient way to ensure users are who they claim to be.
For a more detailed look at emerging threats in the global identity landscape, check out our 2024 State of Identity Fraud report.