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ReadersSpeak

A huge downside to biometric authentication effective integration with existing systems, which can be
gnarly; and studies have shown they are not actually 100
n "57 mobile channels and nothing on," published percent accurate.
in The Green Sheet's May 28 edition, Dale S. Laszig
wrote, "The U.S. Payments Forum confirmed However, the big thing, the one thing that gives me pause
I merchants are usually liable for fraud in CNP above all other is that these biometric characteristics
transactions but noted they can shift liability to card cannot be reset once they are compromised. And you can
issuers by implementing 3D Secure and other security be sure that the more widespread their use becomes, the
tools in smartphones that include device ID, geolocation more fraudsters will attack systems using them and find
and biometrics." ways to compromise them. What happens next when that
occurs? Who is thinking about that? I don't think it's a
Whenever I read "biometrics" in relation to payment matter of if; it's a matter of when, that is, if we go further
authentication, it gives me pause. I'll explain just a few down the biometrics road.
things about biometrics in case some readers aren't Ed Willington
familiar with it. Simply put, it is the identification of a Merchant Level Salesperson
person through unique biological characteristics such as Ed,
fingerprints, facial recognition and iris scans.
You've brought up an important point. Next time we delve
These characteristics are unique to each individual, and into biometrics in a feature article, we'll be sure to explore
using one or more of them for authentication has certain what industry experts working in the field of payment
advantages, for example, they can't be forgotten or lost, security have to say.
they can lead to improved security as well as an improved Editor
customer experience, and I've been told they can reduce
operational costs, too. Are you OK with biometrics?

On the downside, however, biometric measurements can Are you worried about biometric data being compromised
be affected by the environment housing the equipment; by fraudsters? How might that affect payments? Share
they typically require the purchase of hardware or your thoughts on this and other new developments in
payments at greensheet@greensheet.com.