New fingerprint scanners are now controlling access to the sports centre at the University of Northern B.C., and some students are calling that an invasion of privacy.

UNBC students Natalia Richardson (left) and Janice Montbriand give a thumbs down to finger scanning on campus.
(Betsy Trumpener/CBC)

The university recently installed the RecTrac biometric scanning system made by an American company, but already more than 300 students have signed an online petition opposing it.

When the students swipe their finger on a special pad at the entrance to the facility, their fingerprint appears on a screen followed by their photo.

Graduate student Gabrielle Wint-Rose wasn't sure why her gym needs such personal data, and said the invasiveness of the system should have been considered and students consulted before installing the system.

"It was a really shocking experience. It really wakes you up. You realize you walk into this facility and the only way to access is through finger scanning and all of sudden you're in this moment where you have no choice. What do you do?" said Wint-Rose on Wednesday.

Lindsay Stinson told CBC News she was upset she had to register her fingerprint and give personal information before she could work out at her university's new gym.

"This fingerprint system, it's essentially your biological signature. This is who you are," said Stinson on Wednesday.

Wint-Rose said she is concerned about what happens to the biometric information and who controls it.

"The northern sports centre has my information. I have no way of getting that back. I don't know how it's being collected, where it's being stored, who has access to this information," said Wint-Rose.

UNBC Sports Centre staffer Dustan Sept demonstrates the finger scan system.
(Betsy Trumpener/CBC)

But UNBC director of media and public relations Rob van Adrichem told CBC News on Wednesday the students don't need to worry.

"A lot of people automatically assume because they're seeing their fingerprinting on the screen … that the system is storing their data, and that's not happening," said van Adrichem on Wednesday.

Van Adrichem said the RecTrac biometric finger scanners do not actually store pictures or images of the fingerprints. Instead, the system calculates a unique identifying number based on the fingerprint.

Van Adrichem said the system is convenient and secure, because students don't need to remember a card or wear a shoe-tag. But he admits the university could have done a better job explaining it to students.

B.C.'s privacy and information commissioner David Loukadelis is now talking with university officials to ensure students' privacy is being protected.

"These kinds of technologies are becoming more accurate. They're becoming cheaper and they're likely to become more widespread in the coming years throughout the private and public sectors," said Loukadelis on Wednesday.

"For these reasons, we want to make the enquiries … and ensure the technologies being used are, in fact, appropriate."