Biometric Authorisation with Consent Frameworks for Music Festivals.

Implementing robust access control and ID verification utilising biometric authorisation on a festival site can provide increased security, but there are ethical and legal aspects to consider too. How can festival organisers implement biometric authorisation on festival sites that use consent frameworks to overcome privacy concerns.

Emerging technology is making it possible to operate a music festival that increasingly relies on biometric authorisation for numerous operational processes. Using fingerprint, facial recognition, iris scanning and palm vein systems can improve speed and reduce fraud, but this needs to be balanced with audience trust, legal compliance, data security and transparent consent management. How can festival organisers implement biometric authorisation systems that are consent driven to maintain privacy but also increase operational efficiency and security.

Common Biometric Uses on Festival Sites.
Accreditation is a key aspect of robust access control processes for a festival site as it ensures that only authorised individuals can access the site. This is driven by the need for both safety and security issues common on a festival site. In addition to staff, volunteers, contractors and vendors needing accreditation for access control the same principles can be applied to festival-goers with facial recognition and fingerprint authorisation that can be linked to ticketing. In addition, cashless payment systems and RFID wristbands can be linked to biometrics to help prevent fraudulent payments.

Importance of Consent.
Aside from just implementing biometric authorisation organisers must ensure that they build a consent framework to stay legal and compliant. Biometric data is classified as highly sensitive personal data in numerous jurisdictions because it’s difficult to change if compromised and is often valuable in identity theft. When organisers are considering their consent framework they must ensure that it is given freely and is specific, unambiguous and revocable with no hidden consent clauses or forced opt ins. Consent for festival-goers usually starts with the ticketing process where biometric options are clearly explained demonstrating the benefits and risks linked to privacy policies. During the ticket purchase process any terms and conditions should provide an explicit consent checkbox along with the alternatives available. Once festival-goers get to the entrance gates or are using biometric verification organisers should provide information notices with QR-linked policy pages. Staff should be fully briefed to help with any concerns as well as providing procedures for the withdrawal of consent. Any technology being used for biometric authorisation should contain the consent status of every individual with the ability to revoke consent, delete stored data and disable biometric features. For staff, volunteers, contractors and vendors using biometric authorisation for access control the necessary consent can be included in policies linked to contracts and accreditation processes.

Technical Solutions.
The technology specified for any biometric authorisation should be designed on a privacy first principle with great encryption and segmented databases. The localisation of credential matching enables authorisation that does not rely on constant connectivity on a festival site. RFID wristbands can hold credential matching data, and locally encrypted verification terminals should have an offline capability to ensure continued operational capability. Organisers must ensure that all data used is clearly separated so that ticketing, payments, identity and biometric templates cannot be compromised by insider abuse or security breaches in one database reducing the severity of any incidents.

Security and Compliance.
When festival organisers are managing any personal data, they must ensure that they are using the latest cybersecurity controls. All data must be encrypted and access to systems containing data must have strong identity management. Staff and contractors must have role-based permissions where all sessions are logged with robust admin approval workflows. This ensures that there is continuous monitoring to detect unauthorised access, failed authentication spikes, credential abuse and device tampering for example. Festival organisers must ensure that they are complying with any prevailing GDPR rules where biometric data is commonly considered “special category data”. This usually specifies requirements like explicit consent, lawful processing, data retention controls and subject access rights. In the United Sates some states have specific laws related to biometrics usage and compliance, for example. Festivals must be increasingly aware of the focus regulatory authorities are placing on cross border data transfer rules, consent requirements and cybersecurity mandates and are essential considerations where multiple events take place in different countries.

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

Image by TheDigitalArtist via Pixabay

<< Back to articles