Overview
ISO/IEC 24741:2024 - "Information technology - Biometrics - Overview and application" is an international standard that describes the purpose, history and practical use of biometric technologies. It surveys major biometric modalities (for example fingerprint recognition, face recognition, iris recognition, voice, signatures and multimodal systems), explains the architecture and processes of automated biometric systems, and provides guidance on applying biometric standards across business and government domains. The document also summarizes societal, legal and jurisdictional considerations and points to the International Standards that underpin biometric deployments.
Key topics and technical focus
- Biometric characteristics and technologies: overview of modalities such as finger/palm, face, iris, vascular, voice, gait, signature, DNA and multimodal approaches.
- General biometric system architecture: conceptual components and workflows including data capture, transmission, signal processing, storage, comparison, decision, administration and application interfaces.
- Core functions: enrolment, verification (1:1) and identification (1:N).
- Performance and conformance: guidance on performance testing, types of technical tests and reporting for biometric systems.
- Technical interfaces: discussion of biometric data blocks (BDBs), biometric information records (BIRs), service architectures and APIs such as BioAPI/BIP.
- Security and anti‑spoofing: protection of biometric data, presentation attack detection (PAD), and integrity of enrolment processes.
- Privacy and ethics: confidentiality, irreversibility, unlinkability, proportionality and acceptability in biometric deployments.
- Standards landscape: overview of standards development organizations and categories of biometric standards (data formats, interfaces, testing, sample quality, application profiles, security).
Practical applications and intended users
ISO/IEC 24741:2024 is designed for professionals who specify, procure, design or regulate biometric systems:
- System architects and integrators building biometric solutions for physical access control, logical access, time & attendance, e‑IDs and electronic authorizations.
- Government agencies (border control, ePassport and Automated Border Control systems, driver licensing, civil registries).
- Law enforcement and forensic units using identification and investigative systems.
- Vendors and product testers seeking guidance on performance testing, interoperability and conformance.
- Privacy officers and policymakers evaluating societal and legal implications of biometric deployments.
Related standards
ISO/IEC 24741 provides guidance and points to the broader biometrics standards ecosystem, including standards for biometric data interchange formats, technical interfaces (e.g., BioAPI), presentation attack detection, biometric information protection, and performance testing. Implementers should consult these specific standards to ensure interoperability, security and compliance.