Biometric Breakdown Part III – Sharing

We've looked in our series to what companies should do when collecting biometric information, and now we turn to issues around sharing biometric information. The three states which have thus far enacted specific biometric privacy legislation—Illinois, Texas, and Washington—each place restrictions upon the sharing of biometric information. Illinois has imposed a blanket prohibition upon the sale of biometric information. The information may be shared if needed to complete a financial transaction authorized by the individual, if required by law, or, if the individual provides consent, for any other purpose.

The Texas law allows both sale and sharing of biometric data if needed to complete a financial transaction authorized by the individual, if required by law, or, if the individual provides advance consent, for the specific purpose of identification in case of death or disappearance. Washington's law is the most liberal. It allows sharing and sale for any purpose if