Ministry of Public Security considers solutions to put biometric information into the ID database

On the afternoon of February 6, the Ministry of Public Security held a workshop on evaluating scientific solutions and biometric technology of DNA, voice, and iris to serve the implementation of the new Law on Identification, effective from July 1, 2024.

At the workshop, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc said that the Law on Identification has been passed by the National Assembly and will take effect from July 1, 2024. It includes new regulations related to adding biometric information such as DNA, iris, and voice to the identification database.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Duy Ngoc affirmed that the implementation of technological utilities for people has been carried out synchronously and consistently with applications, biometric authentication, chip utilities on ID cards, and electronic identification. This has been successful in reducing and shortening administrative procedures and making them more user-friendly.

The leader of the Ministry of Public Security further cited that currently in the world, many countries have built national databases on DNA, iris, voice to serve population management and crime prevention, natural disasters, and search for victims. In Vietnam, it has been gradually approached, but there are still many difficulties in terms of legality and information technology infrastructure.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Duy Ngoc said that when issuing regulations on the application of biometrics, there were also many different opinions. However, the Law on Identification has been passed and now we need to discuss how to implement it effectively. In the process of developing regulations, the Department of Administrative Police for Social Order is assigned to implement and will continue to be open to and listen to comments.

Choose the optimal option

At the workshop, scientists, managers, and experts focused on discussing and clarifying the following contents: Priority subjects for implementation (the Law on Identification affirms that people are voluntary); Is it mandatory for crime prevention groups to apply biometrics?; What applications will be provided; How will technological solutions be implemented; What sampling methods will be used (blood, saliva, etc.).

At the workshop, Professor Ho Tu Bao, Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, said that biometrics is a part of human numbers, a field of scientific research and data mining to confirm identities.

During the implementation process, Professor Ho Tu Bao noted that it is necessary to measure each individual sample and identify it. According to him, DNA has many advantages such as high accuracy and cannot be forged, but the disadvantage is high cost. Meanwhile, voice biometrics is low cost, easy to use and the equipment is simpler to apply, but has the disadvantage of being forged and the language environment can be affected. Along with that, iris biometrics has an average cost but requires complex equipment and higher cost.

Mr. Nong Van Hai, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, said that the choice of biometric solution must be based on cost, convenience and security. According to Mr. Hai, from now until the Law on Identification takes effect, there needs to be a project to clearly assign resources and a council related to ethical issues when taking samples.

Meanwhile, regarding investment resources to implement solutions, Mr. Hai proposed that they could be taken from the state budget, socialized resources and international support (if any).

"This is a long-term task that affects the whole society and is related to Vietnam's national position in science and technology. I think we need to consult other countries in the world to see how they do it," said Nong Van Hai Hai.

Continuing to present views and solutions to apply biometrics to the identification database, Mr. Nguyen Duc Cong - Thong Nhat Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that applying DNA to identification is a solution, not everything. DNA data, according to Mr. Cong's understanding, is mainly in crime prevention. Therefore, the implementation process needs to collect genes for people with different constitutions, because each person with a different constitution will give different results, which can cause this disease or that disease.

Mr. Cong supports the collection of genes through blood sampling. During the process of sharing opinions, Mr. Cong is concerned that this is an expensive solution, so further research is needed.