Ethical principles: Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee
Set of ethical principles developed by the Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee.
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September 2025
These principles were created when the Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee was known as the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group. They are currently under review.
The Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee (STEAC) - formerly the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group (BFEG) - principles are a set of high-level governing principles that apply to all operational and governance stages. This includes procurement, operation and review of the systems, procedures and instruments used in biometric and forensic services and data analysis used for purposes that fall within the purview of the Home Office.
The governing principles are foundational to the advice which the STEAC provides. They are accompanied by a set of questions intended to clarify and aid the interpretation of the governing principles. The questions are designed to support an individual in considering ethics within a project.
In late 2022, the members of the then BFEG reviewed the principles and agreed ethical procurement should be reflected. Two additional governing principles that should apply to the use of biometric, forensic and data analysis procedures were added in March 2023, making it a total of 8 governing principles.
You can view the previous version of this report by visiting The National Archives.
Updates to this page
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Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group is now know as Science and Technology Ethics Advisory Committee.
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Latest version of BFEG ethical principles published.
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Updated BFEG Ethical Principles document and added HTML version.
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First published.