Despite the once popular debate over biometrics and personal privacy, it seems more people want to see biometrics included in identifications.

 

This is what a new study released by TRUSTe, an online privacy certification and seal program provider, revealed.

 

For the study, conducted in September 2006, Market research group TNS polled US consumers and found they are mainly supportive of the addition of biometrics into government issued forms of identification including passports (82 percent), driver's licenses (75 percent) and Social security cards (72.6 percent).

 

A main reason for this high level of support—stopping terrorist operations by positively identifying US citizens. This desire for security-- enough to let go of some personal privacy concerns.

 

Americans are not so keen however on welcoming biometrics into the retail sector. When it came to security and biometrics as a solution, it was accepted over the likelihood of supporting biometrics in payment options. While respondents said they would give their biometric information to credit cards and banks, whom they trusted 76 percent of the time, only 41 percent trusted retail stores in the same way.  

 

And when it came to the topic of identity theft, a growing problem, US consumers were split 67 percent said criminals would still find a way to commit the crime, and 68 percent said they believe adding biometrics would make it harder for thieves to steal information.

 

"The results of our survey suggest that there are still a significant number of people who are apprehensive about the use of biometrics as a form of ID, and that this number is much greater for retail users than for government identification," David Stark, North America privacy officer, TNS  commented in a statement.