The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is advancing plans to use retina scan technology to secure banking transactions and government systems, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda revealed during a Malacañang press briefing on October 7.
“It’s being rolled out now in some communities,” Aguda said. “For the banks, we just need one bank to do a use case and it’s up to them. I only urge them to move quickly because Christmas is coming, and it would be better by then if there are no doubts about online transactions.”
Aside from banks, the technology could also improve the security of government aid programs. “It’s good if, for example, beneficiaries are first scanned so we know they are the actual recipients of aid,” Aguda explained.
The DICT is pushing for innovation and private sector collaboration to fight fraud through technology. “We need to fight technology with technology,” he added.
To address privacy concerns, Aguda emphasized that “permission is critical” under Philippine data privacy laws, and the technology provider, World, has internal safeguards against misuse and impersonation.
With adoption underway, the DICT aims to harness retina scans to reduce fraud and enhance security as the holiday season approaches.
