Tuesday June 17 2025: Israeli government now approves allowing identification of the dead through national biometric database.

Access to the database has been given: "To allow police to receive data from the biometric database given extent of the casualties for verification or identification", Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post.

Meanwhile it was reported that the Israeli Government has kept emergency biometrics measures in place, more than a year and a half into Gaza war.

Just one month after October 7 2023, the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) approved full access to the National Biometric Database for Israeli security forces using expedited legislation. The new access was not to be monitored by other government agencies. Since then, the Ministry of National Security has been regularly extending the temporary order despite the country’s regulators, legal experts and rights organizations arguing against its necessity.

The National Biometric Database holds fingerprint and facial data of approximately 7 million Israelis. Alongside the data access, the government also started mandating that citizens applying for an ID card or passport also submit fingerprint and facial biometrics.

According to data from the Biometric Commissioner, however, the fingerprint data was not indispensable. The biometric database helped identify 106 people out of 1,205 casualties, around 11 percent. The individuals were also identified using methods such as DNA, dental records and Israeli Defense Force (IDF) biometric databases which hold records from military conscripts.

“From a national perspective, fingerprints are not a significant game changer,” says Ben Zvi, who also heads the Identity and Biometric Applications Unit at the Israeli National Cyber Directorate. Citizens should be given a choice when submitting biometric data, she adds.

“Taking fingerprints from the entire population infringes on privacy.”

The Biometrics Commissioner is not the only one criticizing the government over privacy.

The emergency regulation issued in November 2023 also allowed security agencies to access private security cameras without court approvals. At the same time, the government has been attempting to legalize sophisticated surveillance tools similar to NSO Group’s spyware Pegasus. According to non-profit organization Statwatch, the legislation is the latest step in the Israeli state’s plan to increase its access to data and surveillance tools.

Legal experts such as Gur Bligh, advisor to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, have proposed to the Privacy Protection Authority the introduction of supervision of the biometric database and shortening the temporary order. The privacy watchdog has also objected to the continued collection of biometric data.

Israel’s activists are still recording some wins in the battle for biometric privacy. Attorney Haim Ravia won a suit against the Population and Immigration Authority over an unregulated biometric database that stored images of citizens passing through automatic border crossings.

“Under the auspices of the war that broke out on October 7, the state is enacting more and more arrangements that violate the right to privacy beyond all measure,” says Ravi. “It is precisely under these circumstances that it is doubly important to enforce the right to privacy, which is a constitutional right in Israel.”

The state's access to biometric data presents significant risks to individual privacy and civil liberties. These include potential for mass surveillance, data breaches exposing sensitive information, and the misuse of biometric data for discriminatory purposes or to suppress dissent. Furthermore, the inability to change biometric identifiers, like fingerprints, if compromised, creates long-term vulnerabilities.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the dangers:

1. Privacy Concerns and Surveillance:

Mass Surveillance:

Biometric data, such as facial recognition from surveillance cameras, can be used to track individuals' movements and activities, potentially leading to constant monitoring and a chilling effect on freedom of expression and assembly.

Secondary Information:

Biometric data, especially raw images, may reveal secondary information about an individual's health or other characteristics that they did not consent to share.

Lack of Transparency and Consent:

The collection and use of biometric data often occur without sufficient transparency or informed consent, raising ethical questions about the power dynamics between the state and its citizens.

2. Security Risks:

Data Breaches:

Biometric data is highly sensitive and, if compromised in a data breach, cannot be easily replaced. This can lead to identity theft, unauthorized access to secure systems, and financial fraud.

Spoofing and Presentation Attacks:

While biometrics are generally considered more secure than passwords, they can still be spoofed through various techniques, such as using fake fingerprints or 3D masks.

Erosion of Trust:

The use of biometrics in counterinsurgency operations, for example, can create vulnerabilities for allies and local partners if the data is not properly secured, especially if the U.S. withdraws its support.

3. Misuse and Discrimination:

Discriminatory Outcomes:

Biometric data can be used to create discriminatory outcomes, such as targeted policing or unequal access to services, particularly if algorithms used for analysis are biased.

Suppression of Dissent:

Biometric data can be used to identify and track individuals who participate in protests or express dissenting opinions, potentially leading to intimidation or harassment.

Price Discrimination:

There are concerns that biometric data could be used to determine prices for goods and services based on individual characteristics, leading to unfair pricing practices.

4. Legal and Regulatory Challenges:

Outdated Frameworks:

The use of biometric data is rapidly outpacing the development of appropriate legal and ethical frameworks, leading to a lack of clear guidelines and regulations.

Lack of Oversight:

There is a risk that the government may collect and use biometric data without adequate oversight or accountability, potentially leading to abuse.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

While the EU's GDPR places stringent restrictions on biometric data collection, not all countries have similar protections.

5. The Enduring Risks of Biometric Systems:

Building a Future Weapon:

As seen in counterinsurgency operations, biometric identification systems create future vulnerabilities for allies and local partners.

Long-Term Vulnerabilities:

Unlike passwords, biometric data cannot be changed if compromised, creating long-term security risks.

Over-Reliance on Technology:

Over-reliance on biometrics can create vulnerabilities, especially when considering the potential for spoofing and hacking.

Martin Blackham Israel First TV Program www.israelfirst.org