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This is getting a bit off-topic, but there are good reasons why biometric data is especially sensitive. For example, the GDPR emphasizes the "right to be forgo

• Blikkentrekker 6y ago
  > So it makes sense to treat certain data as more sensitive. I cannot change my name so easily as far as the Dutch government is concerned as well as that of many other European countries. I need a reason of significance and a simple “I wish to be forgotten and start a new life.” is not accepted, as it is in many European countries. If the E.U. cared so much about this, it would mandate that it's member states permit easier name changes. Simply put, it is easier for me in the Netherlands to have plastic surgery and change my biometric data, than it is for me to change my name so I am holly unconvinced by this argument and it seems ad-hoc to justify what is purely an irrational distinction. > At the same time, the GDPR doesn't want to go overboard with regulation. Name and address are data that lots of businesses need to process -- eg. every online store needs to collect customer name and address and pass it on to payment providers, shipping companies, etc. It would be really inconvenient if you'd need explicit permission for each use ("Do you consent that I can tell the post office where to deliver your package?"). There are already exceptions in place in the law where data may be collected if it be essential for operations. As it stands, companies may ask for my name and address when they have no need for it to process anything, this information can surely be used to uniquely triangulate my identity with little effort, far more effort would be required to do so with a picture of my face, or a scan of my retina. This seems highly arbitrary and ineffective to me. I remain very much unconvinced that this distinction is one that was given any serious thought. > Sure, someone may find a way to abuse a list of names and addresses, but it's just not as sensitive as other data. It is far, far more sensitive. Would you rather that your name and address be placed on H.N., or that your fingerprints or retinal pattern end up here? Would you rather a stalker have the former or the latter? To triangulate a man's identity from biometric data requires specialized equipment, to do so from name and address is a trivial endeavor a layman can undertake. > I think the GDPR actually strikes a great balance between protecting people's privacy and not inconveniencing businesses. If you only collect and process data that's absolutely necessary for providing your service, the GDPR won't inconvenience you much. I do not. I find the distinction made here to be completely arbitrary and undeniable that name and address are far more sensitive and open to abuse than biometric data, the latter requiring specialized equipment to make use of. Again, would you rather a stalker have your name and address, or your retinal scan?
• Blikkentrekker 6y ago
  As another note on your claim of the necessity of address: It would be absolutely trivial to implement a system where one might requæst a randomly generated code with the postal service, that can be placed on a letter that maps to one's real address, except of course, that the real address cannot be retrieved from it, which is hidden with the postal service. With such a trivial scheme, it would be possible to receive mail without having to leak one's place of residence to the sender, simply give them such a code, which could even be set to expire within a set timeframe, at which point the postal service deletes the connexion to one's real address, for fear their data be leaked. It's trivial; it's of far greater importance than the sensitivity of biometric data, yet it is not there. I can only gander it's not, because the E.U. is extremely arbitrary at what points it cares about one's privacy. Name and address are absolutely, as I argued elsewhere, some of the most sensitive data available, and there are trivial measures that could be taken to secure it better, yet these are not implemented, for the E.U. is extremely arbitrary and not rational in it's decisions.
  • yarcob 6y ago
    I'm late to reply, but in Austria the postal service happens to offer multiple services similar to this. You can rent a "post box" for letters or packages. You pay a monthly fee and get a post box number. You provide your post box number instead of the address, and then you can pick up your mail from the post office. They also have a forwarding service. Same thing but they deliver it to your home. Also, many online stores let you deliver directly to a post office or even to self service pick up stations. So there are ways to shop online without providing your address. But these services are not used very much. I guess most people don't care as much about the secrecy of their address.