Protection of Biometric Data When Using Filters on Social Networks

Abstract

The use of biometric data has facilitated access to many social networks and even banking applications. Facial recognition was first proposed more than 50 years ago, and today, the legal implications that its unauthorized use may carry are still being examined. The objective of this research is to determine the importance of protecting biometric data when using filters on social networks. The research falls within the qualitative approach and was developed in a documentary, descriptive type. The method used to conduct the research was the analytical-synthetic method. As one of the results, it is indicated that social networks, often without users even realizing it, have access to the internet protocol known as (IP), the image gallery, device location, language, and time, among others. Not to mention that when users access Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, their interests, workplaces, income, and the people of interest are already determined through user actions. It is concluded that, in Ecuador, the Organic Data Protection Law classifies biometric data as sensitive information, meaning it is a special category of information that includes ethnic elements, health, genetic information, religious or moral beliefs, political affiliation, and even sexual orientation. Once violated, these data affect fundamental human rights, such as the right to privacy and intimacy.