Fingerprint technology, used by law enforcement agencies for years, uses fingerprints to uniquely identify individuals. Advances in recognition software have led to the use by private entities in customer authentication and some employers now are using fingerprint recognition technology to increase the accuracy and efficiency of employee timekeeping systems. Although there is no federal statute that regulates private-sector use of the software, numerous states have enacted statutes concerning the collection of fingerprints by government agencies, by accreditation boards, or in certain regulated industries.
