When Do Privacy Regulations Go Too Far?

Biometrics offer benefits such as increased efficiency and security, yet some privacy activists have vigorously opposed the technology’s growing ubiquity. However, heavy-handed state laws such as the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) in Illinois have unintended consequences, becoming a roadblock to even some rudimentary uses of biometrics. In an opinion piece for Government Technology, Daniel Castro writes that, rather than imposing new restrictions, states would better serve local residents and businesses by encouraging greater use of biometrics to increase productivity and improve security.