Forecast: Germany law enforcement biometrics CAGR 17.6% through 2018

Law Enforcement Biometrics Market in Germany 2014-2018 (Companies and Markets)

A major driver of the market is the high demand for security. The Government sector, especially the law enforcement bodies, is in need of more secure and protected security measures. The increase in investments by the government in biometric solutions is a major boost for the Biometrics market in Germany.

Further, one of the major challenges that hinder the growth of the market is the accuracy of biometric systems. The accuracy of the biometric system may not be high enough in certain applications such as negative identification or if the fingerprints are faded, which is a special physical characteristic.

Analysts forecast the Law Enforcement Biometrics market in Germany to grow at a CAGR of 17.6 percent over the period 2013-2018.

German Interior Minister: EU needs US-style entry database (The Local)

German soccer fans angered by face-scan plan

"We have to go beyond the current discussions" (Reuters)

"Along with the help of personalised entrance tickets and face scanners, notorious rioters can be effectively kept out of the stadiums," said Caffier in a statement.

"We have to go beyond the current discussions," he said.

A study has been commissioned to determine the practical and legal feasibility of using the technology in stadiums, after which a pilot run of the scanners will be carried out.

In a country that has had a difficult relationship with surveillance in the past, any form of monitoring the population is met with suspicion.

"This idea is a disgrace to democracy and is reminiscent of Orwell's 1984," said Philipp Markhardt, spokesman for the national Pro-Fans association.

A note:

In the hardware world as it relates to facial recognition, there really isn't any such thing as a "face scanner." Facial recognition is something that happens when certain software is applied to images collected by ordinary cameras. You might use a flat-bed scanner to get an image into a computer, but it's still just a photo scanner, not a face scanner.


h/t @m2sys

Germany: Biometrics Figure in € 31 Billion Defense Budget

Germany Defence Budget Estimated at Around USD 41 Billion (TransWorldNews)

With no exclusive organizations focused on fighting terrorism, Germany's homeland security expenditure is largely concerned with the security of its borders and the international threat of terrorism. Indeed, while Germany is expected to procure biometric identification systems to prevent illegal immigration by increased efficiency in border patrol, attractive opportunities are forecast to emerge in the areas of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), all-terrain vehicles, satellite radar systems and, if it were to pull out of its ongoing A400M development program, military transport aircraft.

Germany to sue Facebook over face recognition. Facebook to make all sharing privacy settings 'opt-in'

Facebook faces legal action from a German data protection watchdog (thinq_)

"This requires storing a comprehensive database of the biometric features of all users," the organisation wrote. "Facebook has introduced this feature in Europe, without informing the user and without obtaining the required consent. Unequivocal consent of the parties is required by both European and national data protection law."

In other news:

Facebook to make all sharing privacy settings 'opt-in' (ZDNet)

The settlement would require the world’s largest social network, with over 800 million users worldwide, to “express affirmative consent” if it makes “material retroactive changes”, the Wall Street Journal reports. The settlement dates back to an FTC investigation to December 2009, when Facebook radically changed its privacy settings. The changes, at the time, made parts of users’ Facebook pages, such as profile picture and other personal information from birthdays to friends’ lists public.

Dubai UAE: Fingerprints needed for Schengen visa

German Consulate in Dubai to introduce biometrics (GulfNews.com)

The German Consulate in Dubai will soon make biometrics, or fingerprinting, mandatory for all Schengen visa applicants, XPRESS can reveal.

"The biometric data system will be introduced within the next year to bring in greater traceability," German Consul General Klaus H.D. Ranner said in an exclusive interview. "It is a response to increased security requirements. It will help check identity theft and make it difficult for people to fake passports and visas."

He said the German Consulate will be the second diplomatic mission among Schengen states to adopt this measure in the UAE.

The UAE already uses fingerprint biometrics in its national ID.

A note on Schengen:
For those as confused as I was about how to pronounce 'Schengen," this should help. Schengen is a town in Luxembourg (pop. 1500) so think German, not Chinese. It rhymes with swingin' as in "Schengen is a swingin' town." This is a mnemonic device, not necessarily a fact.

Germany introduces biometric cards for foreigners

In a bid to prevent identity fraud, Germany is digitalizing its residence permits for non-EU citizens. Instead of a paper document, they'll be given a new biometric chip card - shaped like a credit card. (Deutsche Welle)