When Biometrics Fail: Gender, Race, and the Technology of Identity

226 Pages·2011·1.374 MB·English

by  Shoshana Amielle Magnet

WHEN Biometrics FAIL

Shoshana Amielle Magnet
Biometrics
WHEN FAIL
(cid:116) (cid:116) (cid:116) (cid:116) (cid:116) Gender, Race, and the Technology of Identity
Duke University Press Durham and London 2011
∫ 2011 Duke University Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America on
acid-free paper $
Designed by Heather Hensley
Typeset in Scala by Keystone Typesetting, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Data appear on the last printed page of this book.
This book is dedicated to my mother,
Sanda Rodgers, and my partner, Robert Smith?

CONTENTS
ix Acknowledgments
1 introduction IMAGINING BIOMETRIC SECURITY
19 one BIOMETRIC FAILURE
51 two I-TECH AND THE BEGINNINGS OF BIOMETRICS
69 three CRIMINALIZING POVERTY: ADDING BIOMETRICS TO WELFARE
91 four BIOMETRICS AT THE BORDER
127 five REPRESENTING BIOMETRICS
149 conclusion BIOMETRIC FAILURE AND BEYOND
159 Appendix
165 Notes
171 Bibliography
199 Index

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The first draft of what became this book was started when I was a PhD
student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I was lucky
enough to be surrounded by scholars and friends who provided rich
critical race feminist analysis that was characteristic of the Institute of
Communications Research, where I was in residence. The help I received
from members of the cu Feminist Collective in formulating this project
cannot be overestimated. Aisha Durham first gave me the idea of writ-
ing about biometric technologies during a co√ee session, when she sug-
gested I take a look at their use in the regulation of welfare recipients. Her
incredible insight, brilliance, and generosity as a scholar informed this
book from the start. Without my study buddy, Celiany Rivera Velàzquez, I
never would have made it through the writing stage of the draft that
became this book. Celiany always pushed my theoretical boundaries. Her
reflections on the complexities of hybridity, racialization, and queer femi-
nisms were invaluable, and she always had an hour (or four) to bring her
insight to bear on my project. I also remain incredibly grateful for the day
that Himika Bhattacharya decided to join the Institute. Her dazzling intel-
lect, inspired comments, and vast knowledge of intersectional feminist
theory were incredibly important to my understanding of biometric tech-
nologies. All were fabulous for their theoretical help and for lending me
their shoulders to cry on (which I did with regularity). Before I even
arrived at the Institute a phone discussion with Jillian Baez while I was
deciding where to go to graduate school was key. Jillian and I began at the
Institute in the same year. Her razor-sharp mind pushed my own think-
ing. (And her hilarious sense of humor didn’t hurt either!) Carolyn Ran-