Hitachi publishes the results of biometric awareness survey

Hitachi, Ltd. conducted the nationwide "Attitude Survey on Biometric Authentication," involving 1,500 men and women ranging in age from their teens through their 70s. The survey results were published earlier this year. The survey was conducted online at the end of last year.

This survey was carried out as part of the biometrics business promotion by Hitachi, with the purpose of quantitatively grasping consumer awareness and attitudes, as well as their expectations and worries about biometric authentication using data, regarding not only biometric authentication but also various identification techniques, such as passwords and QR codes. The results of the survey revealed that about half of those who do not feel anxious about using biometric authentication do not understand the risks involved, and security is what is most needed when using biometric authentication.

The survey results are outlined below:

1. 1) At least one out of four people use biometric authentication as a security measure. The use of biometric authentication is spreading due to the popularization of smartphones and the growing demand for online payments.
2. 2) About 60% of people have had issues when identifying themselves. Many people are unable to correctly remember their log-in information, complaining "I forget my log-in information," and "I have had accounts locked due to errors when trying to log in," etc.
3. 3) The proportion of people who seek to resolve their problems through biometric authentication is about 70%, and expectations for biometric authentication are increasing.
4. 4) More than 70% of the respondents have never felt anxious about the use of biometric authentication, while about half of them do not understand the risks involved.
5. 5) More than 80% value "security" when using biometric authentication. "Security" is seen as more important than "authentication accuracy" or "authentication speed."

Regarding the use of biometric authentication as a security measure, 25.5% or about one-quarter of people stated that they use biometric authentication. A breakdown of this number showed that 48.8% of teenagers and 34.9% of people in their 20s gave that response, indicating that the use of biometric authentication is especially popular among young people. In addition, 73% of biometric users first started using the technology with a "smartphone lock." "Smartphone locks" were also how most non-users wanted to use it in the future. Furthermore, while 70% of people never felt anxious about using biometric authentication, half of them did not understand the risks involved, with Hitachi noting that biometric authentication has a great advantage in that it offers better security than passwords, etc. However, biometric information cannot be replaced, so in the unlikely event that the data are leaked, it may develop into a serious risk.

Hitachi reaffirmed that "safe management of biometric information" to resolve its inherent issues is important for further use and spread of biometric authentication.