eJustice, security and biometrics: the EU’s proximity paradox

Biometric technology is a tool to identify, verify and authenticate individuals. As such biometric data stored on personal documents bring the EU close to the individual citizen. The fear of misuse of such data arises from attendant government plans to store data in centralised, inter-operable and possibly out-sourced data bases.

The Hague Programme’s implementation requires the application of accessibility which in its application may compromise data privacy, accountability and legitimacy. eJudicial cooperation provides procedural and technical ICT means to manage the security implications of the Four freedoms. It exemplifies issues that rolling out egovernance across the EU entail. All bring the EU closer to the citizen and potentially aggravate the proximity paradox.

European journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Vol 13/4 2005 pp 533-564