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Thumbprinting catches on with businesses
April 21, 1998
Web posted at: 1:07 p.m. EDT (1707 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- More and more businesses are using customer thumbprints as a verification process to avoid bad checks, but consumer groups are warning that the data may get into the wrong hands.
While banks in all 50 states already have some version of the system, thumbprinting is now spreading to such businesses as rental agencies, liquor stores and even pawnbrokers.
Businesses say the system is a strong deterrent to criminals, but some customers say the system makes them look like criminals.
Consumer groups have attacked the practice, saying there is no guarantee the prints couldn't end up in the wrong hands or ultimately be used as part of a centralized database of all citizens.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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