Last Updated: November 7, 2024
This Biometric Information Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) is applicable to users of the applicable Snipp services to which this Policy is linked to, or as otherwise applicable to (collectively, the “Services”) and who are residing in the United States of America.
In addition to the information we’ve provided you in our Privacy Policy , we want to help you better understand how Snipp Interactive Inc., and its subsidiaries and affiliate companies (together, “Snipp”, “we” or “ours”) collects and treats biometric information.
Snipp cares about the security of your personal information and seeks to protect you and us against fraud. Where permitted by law, and in connection with providing the Services, Snipp and certain of our service providers may use ID scanning and facial recognition technology to verify your identity and safeguard personal information as part of our security, compliance, and fraud prevention efforts. This notice more specifically describes our collection and use of biometric data.
Biometric Data
When we refer to “biometric data,” we mean information about your physical or biological characteristics (sometimes called “biometric identifiers”) that identify you. Information like eye, hand, or face scans; fingerprints; and voiceprints may be considered biometric data if they are being used to identify you by technical means. The definitions of biometric data vary under different states’ laws. For example, some states’ biometric laws don’t apply to driver’s license photos. Photos of you are not biometric data, but biometric data can be made from processing the photo using certain technology. As used in this policy, Biometric Information includes any "biometric identifiers" or "biometric information" as defined under applicable law.
Information Collected
The information we collect will vary depending on the specific type of Services you request. Many Services do not require Biometric Information, however certain Services may require a higher level of assurance for your identity verification. When you sign up for an applicable Service we may collect the following Biometric Information:
- Facial Biometrics: Our Service may require you to upload an image of your government issued or other identification document(s) as well as your photographic image or self photograph using your mobile or other device. We use these images to create a facial geometry or faceprint which we could then use for purposes of identity verification and to prevent the creation of multiple accounts in a fraudulent manner.
- Fingerprint Information: Our Service may require the submission of fingerprints, including fingerprint or hand scanning, which we use for purposes of identity verification and to prevent the creation of multiple accounts in a fraudulent manner.
Purposes
We use your biometric data to verify or authenticate your identity, to authenticate use of your account and the Services for a transaction, to detect and prevent fraud, to enable you to regain access to your account (account recovery), and to comply with legal obligations or comply with a request from law enforcement or government entities where not prohibited by law. Subject to the storage and retention guidelines below, we store and use your biometric data for these purposes for the duration of your engagement with us or as otherwise permitted by law.
Disclosure of Biometric Data
Unless otherwise required by law, your biometric data is accessible only to us and our service providers, which process your data only on our behalf to accomplish the purposes above. We do not share biometric data with any other third parties unless required by law. We do not sell, lease, trade or otherwise profit from the biometric data. We may disclose your biometric data to our authorized service providers or other third parties if:
- You or your authorized representative consent to the disclosure (for example, by selecting the “Verify With” Button (or similar button) to verify identity using a photo of yourself and/or a ID);
- the disclosure completes a financial transaction requested or authorized by you or your authorized representative;
- the disclosure is required pursuant to a valid warrant, subpoena, or court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
- the disclosure is required by law.
Retention and Storage
Snipp will collect, store, transmit, and protect your biometric data using a reasonable standard of care that is at least as protective as the way Snipp collects, stores, transmits, and protects other confidential and sensitive personal information.
Unless otherwise required by an order from a court of competent jurisdiction or applicable law, Snipp will only retain biometric data until: (i) the initial purpose for collecting the biometric data has been satisfied, or (ii) for three years following your last interaction with Snipp, whichever occurs first, unless legally required to keep it for a different period.
For any questions regarding Snipp’s use of biometric data or other privacy inquiries, please send an email to privacy@snipp.com
