The Future of Identity Management: Understanding Consumer Attitudes towards Biometric Identification

Abstract

The explosive growth of consumer-facing biometric technology is providing opportunities for organizations to change the way in which they identify and authenticate consumers, and replace traditional forms of identification such as usernames and passwords. For consumers, the benefits include increased account security and convenient access to services. However, these positives can be countered by issues such as concerns about privacy and security. Drawing on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and prior research, this study uses data collected from 132 online banking consumers to assess the relative impacts of benefits and concerns on their attitude towards using biometric identification for their banking. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.