Investigating users' readiness to trade-off biometric fingerprint data

Abstract

Biometric-based authentication is a growing trend. While this trend is enabled by the introduction of supporting technology, the use of biometrics introduces new privacy and ethical concerns about the direction of authentication. This paper explores willingness of users to share biometric information and therefore take advantage of these technological advances. Specifically, it examines, by means of an experiment, the factors that affect users' decision making when considering providing their fingerprints for a financial incentive. The study surveyed 100 participants and found that most were not willing to share their fingerprints with an e-commerce for any feasible reward. It found that while the financial incentive was a factor, perception of risk (influenced by being exposed to previous cyber-attacks) as well as the participants' self-efficacy had significant effect on the participants' decision making. The study also found that participants make context-based decision about sharing different types of personal data with different entities. The results of the study indicate that many users have concerns sharing their fingerprints with commercial companies. As new systems are being deployed, a better understanding is needed about user perceptions regarding fingerprint data sharing, so they can be better addressed by system designers in the future.