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WFM UK: Time & Attendance: Data Protection

Fourth Customer Success Portal
  • Updated

Overview

This document is to explain the most frequently asked questions regarding time and attendance and the biometric devices that are supplier to be used with Fourth’s HR, Rota and Scheduling modules..
 

What is Biometrics?

Biometrics is a verification or identification of a person by various physiological characteristics, which cannot be transferred or copied.

Synergy A and SY785 Fingerprint Scanners

SY910 Facial Devices.

 

Synergy A and SY785 Fingerprint Scanners

FAQ’S

Are finger prints stored?

Finger prints are not stored within the system however a scan of a finger is. When a scan is taken only part of the finger print is used as shown in Figure 1. The bio metric finger scanner then converts the finger print scan into a non-reversible binary code. Figure 2 shows an example of what this code may look like.

 

User-added image
 

Figure 1 - Finger Print Scan
 

 

User-added image

Figure 2 - Finger Print Template
 
 

Can my finger print scan be given to anyone else?

Because the finger print scan that is converted to a non-reversible template is encrypted, the finger print template or scan is not accessible by any other company. The data is held and is the responsibility of the employer or their agents.


Can my finger tip scan be used by anyone else?

No, finger print scans are unique to the individual. As mentioned the finger print scan is converted into a non- reversible encrypted file which cannot be shared with any other employee.
 

Is fingerprinting against my human rights?

Finger print scanning is not against individual human rights. “Human Rights” refer to the “basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled“. Finger print scans do not record a scanned image of a finger but use them to create a template similar to the one above, of which is saved as a file that is unique to the individuals finger print.
 

Why use biometrics and not cards?

Commonality; Fingerprint recognition is an emergent technology becoming more widely used every year, ID Cards, Passports, School Registration, Library Systems, Access Control, Cashless Payment, Logical Security, Physical Security and Chip & Finger.
It is also Commercially Sensible; ID cards cost between £1.50 and £20.00 pounds per card dependent upon the technology and use, with FPB there is no on cost so considering 500 employees over 10 years with a 40% staff churn the card spend could be between £3,000.00 to £40,000.00. Finally it’s Convenience; employees can’t forget it, loose it and it’s unique to the individual with a false acceptance rate of 0.00001%.
 

How finger prints are scanned

One finger is placed on the biometric terminal, where the fingertip is scanned. The terminal will display a quality % of the scan, so it is recommended that the finger is scanned a few times to ensure the highest quality read.
The scanned fingertip data is the passed through the terminal and converts the scan into a non-reversible binary finger template. Once this template is received by the system, the FPU will encrypt the binary finger template. Below Figure 3 shows this process:

 
 

 User-added image
Figure 3 - How are finger prints scanned


SY910 Facial Scanner Devices  

FAQ’S

Are facial images stored?

Facial images are not stored within the system however a scan of a face is. The SY910 uses proprietary 3D facial analysis combined with IR lighting to drive the identification algorithm. Synel’s facial recognition algorithm cannot be fooled by two-dimensional images, making it impossible for photographs to register on the system, thus cannot be ‘spoofed’ ensuring accuracy and audit compliance.

 

When a scan is taken only features the facial scan are used as shown in the above figure. The bio metric facial scanner then converts the facial scan into a non-reversible binary code.

 

Can my facial scan be given to anyone else?

The facial scan that is converted to a non-reversible template it is not accessible by any other company. The data is held and is the responsibility of the employer or their agents and is encrypted in transition between the device to and from the database.

 

Can my facial scan be used by anyone else?

No, facial scans are unique to the individual. As mentioned the facial scan is converted into a non- reversible file which cannot be shared with any other employee.

 

Is facial scanning against my human rights?

Facial scanning is not against individual human rights. “Human Rights” refer to the “basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled“. Facial scans do not record a scanned image of a face but use them to create a template similar to the one above, of which is saved as a file that is unique to the individuals facial features.

How Face are scanned

Please follow up those steps when enrolling a new facial scan into a 3D image

 

 

The image is now being securely converted into an algorithm that can’t be fooled by any 2D image or a photograph, and is unique to that person only.

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