Biometric Information

According to Article 4(14) of the EU's GDPR, biometric information is personal data resulting from specific technical processing of a person's physical, physiological, or behavioral characteristics, which allows for their unique identification. Common examples include facial images, fingerprints, and voiceprints. Due to its high sensitivity, it is classified as special category data in many regulations, requiring enhanced protection.

Taiwan's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) classifies biometric data as sensitive, generally prohibiting its collection, processing, or use. Violations for profit-making intent can lead to imprisonment of up to five years and fines up to NT$1 million. Data breaches can result in regulatory penalties and significant class-action lawsuits. Furthermore, clients from the EU and US increasingly demand stringent data protection from their supply chains, making compliance with standards like GDPR crucial for securing orders and maintaining reputation.

Key related regulations and standards include: - **EU GDPR**: Article 9 generally prohibits the processing of special categories of personal data, including biometrics, unless specific conditions are met. - **ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS)**: The foundation for information security management, protecting data through access controls and other measures. - **ISO/IEC 27701 (PIMS)**: A privacy extension to ISO 27001, it explicitly requires additional safeguards when processing special category data like biometrics. - **ISO/IEC 24745**: Provides a specific framework and technical guidance for the protection of biometric information.

Winners Consulting is Taiwan's first consultancy to integrate ERM, industrial engineering, technology law, and data science. We don't just implement standards like ISO 27701. Guided by our founder's preventive law philosophy, we use industrial engineering to optimize processes and have tech lawyers ensure legal compliance. We vertically integrate certification, governance, and internal controls to build effective, non-redundant data protection and trade secret systems for clients from semiconductor to finance, mitigating legal risks.