Workshop on Individual Identity, BRUSSELS
5 & 6 November 2009
Final Report & Agenda
Presentations
1. Paul McCarthy, 'Models of Policy Making'
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This workshop opening presentation introduces the concept of “policy” and discusses the many ways in which policy can be considered and implemented – for example, as a decision or as a process, as a strategy or as a tactic, as proactive or as reactive, and as public, private, institutional or organizational. After an overview of the focus of RISE, the presentation lists several sources of public policy and the potential conflicts that may be encountered when attempting to implement them. Several suggestions for compiling the RISE workshop results are then discussed to ensure that all reports are distributed most effectively.
2. Max Snijder (CEO European Biometrics Group), 'Biometrics at EU Borders and Biometrics for Public Administration'
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This presentation introduces the workshop session called “Identities at Borders.” The presentation discusses the use of biometric technologies at European borders and in public administrations. Because European border checks are comprised of varying legal requirements and procedures, the role of biometrics in the control process and “identity” verification also varies. Several possible future initiatives are suggested. The second half of the presentation illustrates the use of biometrics in public administrations using the Dutch Passport Act as a case study. The discussion provides an overview of the biometric data to be stored, and the use and concerns of the central public administration database. The “Case of S. and Marper v. the United Kingdom” is introduced to debate whether the retention of biometric data for the Dutch Passport Act interferes with the right to respect for privacy. The presentation shows the discrepancy between the biometric functionalities as described by the European directive on the e-passport (EC 2252/2004) and the functionalities as presented by the Dutch Passport Act. This raises the question on how a uniform European approach on the function and management of biometric data for public administrations in the EU member states can be achieved, while national policies are not aligned and strongly differ.
3. Edgar A. Whitley (London School of Economics and Political Science) and Gus Hosein, 'The Challenges of Identity Policies in a Globalised World'
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This presentation introduces the workshop session called “Trusted Identities and Trusting Policy.” The presentation opens with a discussion of possible uses of determining “identity” and the choices that must be made in each case. Applications to determine identity include proving age, policing and immigration control. The potential controversial issues that arise in each application differ. For example, how do we minimize the amount of disclosed data when only trying to determine age? But how do we know our potential citizens’ lists are correct when monitoring immigration? The presentation suggests that implementing systems to determine identity requires certain challenges to be overcome: which biometrics do we use and in what kind of database is the information stored? [Also please see the authors’ latest book publication Global Challenges for Identity Policies: http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=281176]
4.Edward Higgs (History Department, University of Essex, UK), 'Change and Continuity in the Techniques and Technologies of Identification over the Second Christian Millennium'
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This presentation introduces the workshop session called “Individual Identity, Technology and Policy: Risks, Issues and Challenges.” The presentation takes a look at a long period of England’s history in an attempt to observe continuities and changes in techniques and technologies concerning a person’s identity. Three types of social roles or personality are identified: the juridical person, the citizen, and the deviant. Historically, only the deviant has been identified as, or via, the body. The juridical person and the citizen tend to be identified by acceptable social performance – e.g., a signature or an official document. The presentation further details the history of the forms of identification specific to each personality type, and discusses how biometric technology evolved from first identifying only the deviant but now also being used to identify the juridical person and citizen.