Protection of Soccer Athletes' Biometric Identification Information: American Experience and China's Strategy

Different from personal information, personal sensitive information, biometric identification information is unique and unchangeable. FIFA has approved and promoted the use of wearable technology to improve soccer performance through the collection biometric identification information of soccer players collected by wearable devices. However, from the perspective of American practice, the processing of soccer athletes' biometric identification information may infringe their privacy rights, right of publicity, and contractual interests. Biometric identification information is prescribed in Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, therefore, it is necessary in the scope of soccer to clarify the scope and exceptions of biometric identification information and specify the content and form of informed consent as well as the detailed implementation rules for soccer players' right to know, to decide, to carry and to delete. It is also important to add soccer players' biometric identification information protection into soccer industry's norms and strengthen specific international cooperation.