factors influencing the adoption of biometric authentication in mobile government security

269 Pages·2017·1.45 MB·English

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Biometric Authentication
in Mobile Government Security
Author
Alhussain, Thamer Omar
Published
2012
Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
School
School of Information and Communication Technology
DOI
https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/3473
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Downloaded from
http://hdl.handle.net/10072/366143
Griffith Research Online
https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au
Factors Influencing the Adoption of Biometric
Authentication in Mobile Government Security

Thamer Omar Alhussain
Bachelor of Computing, Master of ICT

School of Information and Communication Technology
Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology Group
Griffith University

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

June 2011
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This dissertation presents a new substantive theory that identifies and describes the
factors that influence the adoption of biometrics in the security of m-government
applications. The developed theory is specific to a particular context and area of the
application of biometric authentication into mobile devices for government services in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Given the continuing growth of mobile phone
and Internet services, this dissertation is significant since it adds to current knowledge
on how biometric authentication can play an integral role in providing secure m-
government services. More specifically, this dissertation provides rich insight into
understanding the adoption factors based on the concerns and perceptions of users,
service providers, and network operators regarding the application of biometric
authentication to mobile devices for government services.
This dissertation is theoretically significant, because while the weakness of the current
authentication method in mobile devices introduces additional demands to ensure that
advanced authentication methods are used, no known research exists on the adoption
of biometric authentication in mobile devices for government services, especially in
Saudi Arabia. This dissertation addresses the gap in the literature by presenting an
empirical study based on an analysis of the concerns and perceptions of mobile
communication users, service providers, and mobile network operators regarding the
application of biometric authentication to mobile devices for m-government services
in Saudi Arabia.
The research presented in this dissertation is based on the interpretivist paradigm of
research which assumes that people generate their own subjective and intersubjective
meanings about the world as they socially interact with the world around them. This
interpretivist paradigm of research is carried out by the use of grounded theory
methodology. Data collection processes include a questionnaire and semi-structured
interviews. In particular, eleven face-to-face semi-structured interviews were
conducted with the managers of online services and the IT security managers of
mobile e-government service providers. Four semi-structured interviews were also
conducted with managers and IT security providers in mobile communication network
services. In addition, a survey questionnaire was distributed to mobile communication
Thamer Alhussain Page i
Abstract
users in order to collect larger amounts of data on the users’ concerns and perceptions
in a shorter time scale than would have been possible with interviewing mobile phone
users. A total of 311 questionnaires with a response rate of 74% was included in this
study and subjected to statistical analysis and procedures. As concepts and categories
were developed based on the questionnaire results, the results were also involved in
the application of grounded theory.
The main findings presented in this dissertation consist of the development of a
substantive theory for the adoption of biometric authentication for m-government
applications in Saudi Arabia. These findings indicate that acceptance factors include
relative advantage, compatibility, ease of use, trialability, observability, trust, and
privacy, as well as contributory factors involving availability, awareness, legislation,
economical aspects, and social and cultural aspects, which are the most important
factors that will enable the KSA in achieving the adoption of biometric authentication
in m-government security. The dissertation also identifies several needs, perceptions,
and concerns of mobile phone users, service providers, network operators as well as
system factors including requirements and procedural issues regarding the application
of biometrics in m-government security. Furthermore, the analysis in this dissertation
reveals a number of technical and non-technical challenges that would influence the
adoption of biometrics in m-government. The identified technical challenges include
infrastructure, growing a biometrics database, making mobile devices with biometric
attachments available around the country, integrating biometrics along with a Public
Key Infrastructure (PKI) in the smartcards of the mobile device, theft and penetrating
possibility of biometric capture, and dealing with authentication errors in the system.
The non-technical challenges include financial issues, registration and enrolment
processes, lack of IT experts in the KSA, and lack of current relevant research.
In this dissertation, a substantive theory is developed to explain the factors influencing
the adoption of biometrics in m-government in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the
conclusions do not claim to be widely generalizable as the research is limited to a
particular context and specific geographical area. However, future research in other
geographical areas with different cultural backgrounds is recommended, as a number
of substantive theories can help to create more general formal theory.
This dissertation contributes to current knowledge by identifying and describing the
factors that influence the adoption of biometric authentication in m-government
Thamer Alhussain Page ii
Abstract
applications in the Saudi Arabian context. It improves understanding about the
concerns and perceptions of mobile phone users, service providers, and network
operators regarding the application of biometric authentication to mobile devices for
government services. It further discovers the reasons why mobile communication
users prefer the use of biometric authentication in their mobile devices to conduct
government services. Moreover, it identifies the needs and requirements for service
providers to adopt the use of biometrics for m-government services. In addition, this
dissertation provides decision-makers with practical information regarding an
appropriate authentication approach for the security of m-government services, as
well as information on how biometric technology can be adopted for m-government
applications. The practical contribution includes the design of an authentication
system, based on the requirements of service providers and network providers, as
appropriate for applying biometric technology in m-government security.
Keywords
M-government, biometric, authentication, adoption, qualitative study, grounded
theory, Saudi Arabia.

Thamer Alhussain Page iii
Statement of Originality
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY
This work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any
university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the dissertation contains no
material previously published or written by another person except where due
reference is made in the thesis itself.

___________________________
Thamer Alhussain

Thamer Alhussain Page iv
Acknowledgments
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

After sincerely thanking Allah for all blessings and for giving me the ability to fulfil
this research, I would like to thank all the people who provided me with their
assistance, support and guidance.
First of all, I truly appreciate and wish to acknowledge my father and my mother for
their enormous efforts and sacrifices to help, encourage, and support me. I would also
like to express my deep gratitude to my wife and my son Omar. I am grateful to my
wife for her kind encouragement and for marvellously providing the convenient
atmosphere for me to complete my research.
In addition, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my
principal supervisor, Dr. Steve Drew, for his kind and valuable advice. His great help
and positive support guided me immensely to accomplish my research. I would like to
genuinely thank my Associate Supervisor, Associate Professor Liisa von Hellens, for
her guidance, encouragement, and support along the way. I would also like to thank
the Griffith School of Information and Communication Technology, in particular staff
members and my PhD colleagues who provided me with useful knowledge throughout
my academic journey.
Finally, I would like to express my grateful thanks to my brothers and sisters and all
my friends who supported me throughout this research, motivated me through their
kind advice and encouraged me to pursue this degree.

Thamer Alhussain Page v
Publications
PUBLICATIONS
Based on this PhD dissertation, a number of peer-reviewed papers were produced as
the follows.
Journal Publications
Alhussain, T and Drew, S 2010, Employees' Perceptions of Biometric Technology
Adoption in E-Government: An Exploratory Study in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, International Journal of E-Adoption (IJEA), IGI Global, vol. 2, no. 1, pp.
59-71.

Book Chapters
Alhussain, T and Drew, S 2012, Developing a Theoretical Framework for the
Adoption of Biometrics in M-Government Applications Using Grounded Theory,
Information System, Kalloniatis, C (ed), InTech. ISBN 979-953-307-585-2.
Accepted

Conference Papers
Alhussain, T, Drew, S and von Hellens, L 2010, Qualitative Study on Implementing
Biometric Technology in M-Government Security: a Grounded Theory Approach,
5th International Conference on Qualitative Research in IT & IT in Qualitative
Research (QualIT2010), November 29-30, 2010 Brisbane, Australia. ISBN: 978-
1-921760-07-5.
Alhussain, T and Drew, S 2010, Towards Secure M-Government Applications: A
survey study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, International Conference on
Intelligent Network and Computing (ICINC 2010), November 26-28, 2010, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. ISBN: 978-1-4244-8270-2.
Alhussain, T, Drew S and Alfarraj, O 2010, Biometric Authentication for Mobile
Government Security, An application of grounded theory, 2010 IEEE International
Conference on Intelligent Computing and Intelligent Systems (ICIS 2010),
October 29-31, 2010, Xiamen, China, pp.114-118. ISBN: 978-1-4244-6582-8.
Alhussain, T and Drew, S 2009, Towards User Acceptance of Biometric Technology
in E-Government: A Survey Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Software
Services for e-Business and e-Society, IFIP Advances in Information and
Communication Technology, Vol. 305, Springer, pp. 26-38.

Thamer Alhussain Page vi
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................i
STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY............................................................................iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................................................................v
PUBLICATIONS........................................................................................................vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................vii
LIST OF FIGURES...................................................................................................xii
LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................xiii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION...........................................................................1
1.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................1
1.2 Research Aims and Questions............................................................................2
1.3 Research Approach and Method.........................................................................3
1.4 Research Contributions.......................................................................................5
1.5 Justification for and Significance of the Research..............................................6
1.6 Outline of the Dissertation..................................................................................9
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................12
2.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................12
2.2 Electronic and Mobile Government..................................................................13
2.2.1 M-Government Applications.....................................................................14
2.2.2 M-Government Benefits............................................................................15
2.2.3 M-Government Requirements...................................................................16
2.2.4 M-Government Challenges........................................................................18
2.3 Information Security and M-Government........................................................19
2.3.1 Information Assurance...............................................................................19
2.3.2 Authentication Strategies...........................................................................22
2.3.3 Security for Mobile Devices......................................................................22
2.3.4 Security for Network Operators.................................................................23
2.3.5 Security for Service Providers...................................................................24
2.3.6 Security for Users......................................................................................24
2.3.7 The Current Authentication System in M-Government.............................25
2.3.8 Biometrics as a Security Solution..............................................................26
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Table of Contents
2.4 Overview of Biometric Technology.................................................................28
2.4.1 Biometric Systems’ Performance Measures..............................................29
2.4.2 Properties of Biometrics............................................................................30
2.4.3 Application Areas of Biometrics...............................................................31
2.4.4 Types of Biometric Technology................................................................32
2.4.5 Disadvantages of Biometric Technology..................................................35
2.4.6 Privacy Concerns about the Use of Biometric Technology.......................36
2.5 Information and Communication Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia......................................................................................................................36
2.5.1 Information on National Planning in the KSA..........................................37
2.5.2 E-Government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.......................................40
2.5.3 Government Electronic Transactions System (Yesser).............................42
2.5.4 M-Government Applications in the KSA..................................................45
2.6 Locating this Dissertation.................................................................................47
2.6.1 Users..........................................................................................................48
2.6.2 Service Providers.......................................................................................49
2.6.3 Network Operators.....................................................................................50
2.7 Conclusion........................................................................................................50
CHAPTER THREE: ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY...........................................53
3.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................53
3.2 Current Biometric Applications........................................................................53
3.2.1 Biometrics in E-Government.....................................................................53
3.2.2 The Use of Biometrics in the KSA............................................................55
3.3 Factors Influencing Adoption of Technology...................................................56
3.3.1 Technology Acceptance Model.................................................................56
3.3.2 Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology............................57
3.3.3 Diffusion of Innovation..............................................................................58
3.3.4 Adoption Factors among Empirical Studies..............................................60
3.3.5 Biometric Adoption among Empirical Studies..........................................61
3.4 Related Issues to the Adoption of Biometrics in M-Government.....................61
3.4.1 Comparing Biometrics for Mobile Devices...............................................62
3.4.2 Biometrics in Mobile Devices...................................................................62
3.4.3 Biometrics and M-Government.................................................................63
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