Biometric Database Law (Israel)
Encyclopedia
The Biometric Database Law (Hebrew: חוק הכללת אמצעי זיהוי ביומטריים ונתוני זיהוי ביומטריים במסמכי זיהוי ובמאגר מידע, התשס"ט-2009) Is an Israel
i Law
which the Knesset
passed in December 2009, determining that fingerprints and facial contour
s would be collected from all Israeli residents, that the collected data would be integrated onto the Israeli digital identity cards and digital passports, and that a biometric government database of all Israeli citizens and residents would be created which would be used for biometric identification that would allow the management of access control
, identification of individuals and assist in locating individuals suspected of criminal activity by the law enforcement officials. When the law passed in December 2009 it was determined that the law be gradually applied and that at the first phase, the inclusion of one's biometric data in the central database would be voluntary.
Opponents of the highly controversial law, including prominent Israeli scientists and security experts, warned that the existence of such a database could damage both civil liberties and state security, because any leaks could be used by criminals or hostile individuals against Israeli residents.
in it.
Furthermore, the facts which led to the passing of the law are also explained:
The law is aimed for the dealing with the serious issues which the State of Israel is facing in the recent years in identifying documents which are produced by the Interior Ministry, including: Fake ID cards and passports, producing double records for the same person, and identity theft
which are caused when using the documentation of a person from whom the identity was stolen. These examples, allow the misuse of identification documents for illegal immigration, criminal and economic offenses, and activities which harm Israel's national security.
Nowadays identification documents are easily forged by criminals, who often try to get the assistance of state workers. From 2005 to 2007 the Interior Ministry reported the loss, theft and destruction of about 150,000 ID cards per year, for which submitted requests were handed in for new identity cards. In many cases, in question the loss, theft and destruction of the ID cards occurred several times for the same resident during these three years. The data of the Israeli Police indicates that about 52 percent of the individuals whom submitted requests for new identity cards after theirs was lost, stolen and/or destructed, between the yers 1995 to 2006 had a criminal record
, of which 10 percent have a criminal record of distribution of counterfeit documents
.
, etc.).
The biometric database would be stored separatly from the government's older existing identity database, although selected government officials would be capable of linking between the to databases to retrieve additional data.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
which the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
passed in December 2009, determining that fingerprints and facial contour
Photo identification
Photo identification is generally used to define any form of identity document that includes a photograph of the holder.Some countries use a government issued card as a proof of age or citizenship.Types of photo ID cards include:*Passports...
s would be collected from all Israeli residents, that the collected data would be integrated onto the Israeli digital identity cards and digital passports, and that a biometric government database of all Israeli citizens and residents would be created which would be used for biometric identification that would allow the management of access control
Access control
Access control refers to exerting control over who can interact with a resource. Often but not always, this involves an authority, who does the controlling. The resource can be a given building, group of buildings, or computer-based information system...
, identification of individuals and assist in locating individuals suspected of criminal activity by the law enforcement officials. When the law passed in December 2009 it was determined that the law be gradually applied and that at the first phase, the inclusion of one's biometric data in the central database would be voluntary.
Opponents of the highly controversial law, including prominent Israeli scientists and security experts, warned that the existence of such a database could damage both civil liberties and state security, because any leaks could be used by criminals or hostile individuals against Israeli residents.
Law's targets
The laws's targets which are presented in its first section are: Determining the arrangements which would allow the identification and verification of the identity of Israeli residents by including biometric identification means and biometric identification data in passports and identity cards, to prevent forgery and the using of a false identity, and to determine the permitted uses of such data and measures; Establishment of a biometric database which would include biometric identification means which would be integrated onto identification documents, as described in paragraph (1), biometric identification data generated from them, and defining the permitted uses of the database by the Israel Police forces and the Israeli security authorities; Determining the necessary arrangements to protect the privacy of the residents whom provided their biometric data, determining the means of access to the biometric database and securing the informationInformation security
Information security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, perusal, inspection, recording or destruction....
in it.
Furthermore, the facts which led to the passing of the law are also explained:
The law is aimed for the dealing with the serious issues which the State of Israel is facing in the recent years in identifying documents which are produced by the Interior Ministry, including: Fake ID cards and passports, producing double records for the same person, and identity theft
Identity theft
Identity theft is a form of stealing another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name...
which are caused when using the documentation of a person from whom the identity was stolen. These examples, allow the misuse of identification documents for illegal immigration, criminal and economic offenses, and activities which harm Israel's national security.
Nowadays identification documents are easily forged by criminals, who often try to get the assistance of state workers. From 2005 to 2007 the Interior Ministry reported the loss, theft and destruction of about 150,000 ID cards per year, for which submitted requests were handed in for new identity cards. In many cases, in question the loss, theft and destruction of the ID cards occurred several times for the same resident during these three years. The data of the Israeli Police indicates that about 52 percent of the individuals whom submitted requests for new identity cards after theirs was lost, stolen and/or destructed, between the yers 1995 to 2006 had a criminal record
Criminal record
A criminal record is a record of a person's criminal history, generally used by potential employers, lenders etc. to assess his or her trustworthiness. The information included in a criminal record varies between countries and even between jurisdictions within a country...
, of which 10 percent have a criminal record of distribution of counterfeit documents
Identity document forgery
Identity document forgery is the process by which identity documents issued by governing bodies are copied and/or modified by persons not authorized to create such documents or engage in such modifications, for the purpose of deceiving those who would view the documents about the identity or status...
.
Law's clauses
The employees of the Interior Ministry would be authorized to collect biometric identification data from the Israeli population, and to transfer the data to a database which would be managed by the biometric database management authority (הרשות לניהול המאגר הביומטרי). This data would be used to issue resident identification documents and for verification of an individual's identity, by the means of rechecking an individual's biometric identification data by authorized officials (police officer, an employee of the Shin Bet, an employee of the MossadMossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
, etc.).
The biometric database would be stored separatly from the government's older existing identity database, although selected government officials would be capable of linking between the to databases to retrieve additional data.
External links
- Biometric database bill passes first vote / Erez Ronen - Published in ynetnews.com on 10/29/2008
- Digital World: Getting to know all about you and me / David Shamah - Published in jpost.com on 7/21/2009
- Israel Poised To Pass National I.D. Database Law / Nathan Jeffay - Published in forward.com on 8/12/2009
- Following criticism, Netanyahu defers vote on biometric database law - Published in haaretz.com on 11/16/2009
- The State of Israel and the Biometric Database Law: Political Centrism and the Post-Democratic State / Nitzan Lebovic and Avner Pinchuk - Published on 6/21/2010