Recommendation
Congress should mandate that all government agencies use contactless biometrics wherever feasible.
Details
In recent years, government agencies have begun to use biometrics to more securely authenticate individuals. However, many of these applications use techniques that require many individuals to touch the same surface repeatedly, thereby creating a potential avenue for spreading disease. Congress should require all government agencies to implement contactless biometrics wherever feasible to reduce the potential spread of infections during a pandemic. In addition, Congress should direct NIST to start testing and reporting on the accuracy of thermal imaging cameras, which could be used to reduce risks from in-person testing and increase convenience for travelers returning from locations with travel advisories.
Keep reading:
▪ Robert D. Atkinson, et al., “Digital Policy for Physical Distancing: 28 Stimulus Proposals That Will Pay Long-Term Dividends” (ITIF, April 2020), https://itif.org/publications/2020/04/06/digital-policy-physical-distancing-28-stimulus-proposals-will-pay-long-term.