Empowering the end-user in biometrics

User empowerment in the context of information and communication technologies (ICT) means enabling the end-users to set up and/or tailor ICT solutions according to their own requirements. In this paper we argue that user empowerment is essential in biometrics for the acceptance and widespread use of biometrical applications, concepts, and technology. A key issue is a user´s experience of being in control, and how interfaces, modes and modalities of interaction can support and empower the user, whether by direct interaction and control of devices, or via delegation. More importantly, the practices suggested in the paper are steps towards practical and legal regularization of use and circulation o.f biometric information.