[Gllug] Biometrics?

[Bernard Peek]

On Mon, 2009-03-23 at 11:17 +0000, John Edwards wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:09:30AM +0000, Peter Corlett wrote:
> > On Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 10:58:37AM +0000, Bernard Peek wrote:
> > [...]
> > > The amount of data in the whole genome is vast, so they don't store that.
> > > Instead they use what amounts to a hash function.
> > 
> > Quite. This means that there are a surprising number of hash collisions.
> > This fact appears to be quietly ignored by the police and courts.
> 
> It's perfectly OK for use it for small groups (eg cab drivers
> working near location A on a particular date), but if it's the
> only evidence presented than that is a problem.

I'm told that it's never used except as corroborative evidence. Given
the abysmal understanding of statistics that the public (and police)
have, I don't find that as reassuring as I should.

-- 
bap @shrdlu.com 

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