Overview
ISO/IEC TR 30110:2015 - "Information technology - Cross jurisdictional and societal aspects of implementation of biometric technologies - Biometrics and children" provides targeted guidance for deploying biometric recognition systems when children are included as subjects. Building on the general recommendations of ISO/IEC TR 24714‑1, this Technical Report addresses legal, ethical, physiological and usability issues unique to children (defined for this report as individuals up to 18 years, unless local law sets a different age).
Keywords: ISO/IEC TR 30110:2015, biometrics and children, biometric technologies, child privacy, biometric enrolment
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & definitions
- Clarifies the term “child” (up to 18 years for this report) and refers to biometric vocabulary (ISO/IEC 2382‑37).
- Modality‑specific considerations
- Reviews studies and physiological factors affecting fingerprints, face recognition, iris, and hand geometry for children - emphasizing growth, image capture challenges and matching performance.
- Enrolment and usability
- Guidance on enrolment procedures and environments suited to children, including the right to updated enrolment and the right to be observed during enrolment.
- Data protection & privacy
- Requirements and recommendations on informing parents/legal representatives and children, consent processes, opt‑out options, and secure handling of biometric data.
- Data lifecycle
- Advice on biometric data security, retention, destruction and transfer practices with special attention to minors.
- Psychological protection
- Considerations to minimize psychological impact on children and to improve acceptance by children, parents and caretakers.
- Cross‑jurisdictional and ethical context
- Discussion of legal variability among jurisdictions and relevant international child‑rights instruments.
Practical applications
- Newborn identification and hospital workflows
- Child trafficking prevention and forensic identification
- Missing children search and national databases
- School systems: registration, library access, cashless catering, attendance
- Medical record linking and pediatric care history
These applications emphasize enhanced safety, identity preservation and operational efficiency while requiring heightened safeguards for privacy and consent.
Who should use this standard
- System architects and biometric technology developers
- Public policy makers and program implementers (education, health, social services)
- Identity management and IT designers
- Privacy officers, legal advisors and child welfare organizations
- Operators of national or local biometric databases and missing‑child programs
Related standards
- ISO/IEC TR 24714‑1 (general cross‑jurisdictional recommendations for biometrics)
- ISO/IEC 2382‑37 (biometrics vocabulary)
ISO/IEC TR 30110:2015 is a practical resource for organizations implementing biometrics involving children, helping balance technical feasibility with ethical, legal and privacy protections.