Big Moves From the EU, Washington State, and CLEAR: Identity News Digest

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:

EU to Delay EES Again: Report

European Union authorities will delay the implementation of the region’s biometric entry/exit system (“EES”) yet again, according to a report from The Independent. The UK news outlet does not indicate how it learned of the plans, but says a formal announcement from the EU is expected in June. The EES’s implementation has now been delayed multiple times, with the most recent pushing it back from May of this year to November; officials are now reportedly discussing May of 2024 as the launch date, though France is pushing back against the idea due to its plans to host the 2024 Olympics in Paris in late July and early August.

Washington State Health Data Law Passes

Washington state legislators have approved the “My Health My Data Act”, a piece of data privacy legislation with wide scope. The Act extends to data collected by non-HIPAA covered entities such as online publishers, and its definition of health data includes any biometric information that could be linked to an individual’s physical or mental health. The Act requires regulated entities to obtain consent for the collection or sharing of health data unless it is necessary for a service requested by the consumer; and it can be enforced both through the Washington Attorney General or by a private right of action.

Indian State Moves Forward With Biometric Teacher Attendance System

The government of the Indian state of Telangana has decided to proceed with a wide rollout of a facial recognition system to track teachers’ time and attendance, following successful pilots in two districts. The system reportedly will operate through phones and tablets, with both Android and iOS operating systems to be supported. It will be rolled out in the Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts for the next academic year, and gradually extended to further districts in the state thereafter.

Anchorage, Alaska, Sets Police Biometrics Requirements

Municipal officials in Anchorage, Alaska, have approved an ordinance requiring the city’s police department to seek the Anchorage Assembly’s approval, as well as a public hearing, before acquiring facial recognition technology. The Anchorage Police Department does not currently possess or use facial recognition tech, but the new ordinance allows the law enforcement agency to work with third-party agencies that themselves use facial recognition technology for such purposes as tracking victims of abuse or exploitation, or to identify human remains.

CLEAR Expands Airport Network, Enters Selfie Onboarding Sector

CLEAR’s expedited passenger screening system has come to Connecticut, via new screening lanes at the Bradley International Airport. The deployment means that CLEAR is now in place at 52 airports, allowing those who register for the program to easily confirm their identities with an iris or fingerprint scan. CLEAR says it now has 15 million members, with discounts offered through partners American Express, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. CLEAR recently partnered with LinkedIn to provide identity verification for the professional networking platform’s users.

CLEAR has also teamed up with University of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine, in a partnership that appears poised to bring the company into the selfie-based identity verification market. The partnership will see the development of a biometric login system for patients and employees, enabling them to more easily access the digital records stored in the healthcare network’s “UHealth” system. Patients will be able to verify their identity for free using a government-issued ID and a selfie photo, and that they will be able to reset their password within the UHealth app using a selfie image.

Veriff Identity Solution Targets Video Gaming

Veriff has announced a new identity verification solution aimed specifically at online video gaming. The solution includes an age verification system based on an ID scan and “using data to calculate their age,” the company explained in a statement. It also features “face block listing technology” that, in combination with device and network fingerprinting, can be used to stop a single user from creating multiple accounts for the purposes of fraud. The announcement comes after Veriff named a new Vice President of Engineering last month.

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April 19, 2023 – by Alex Perala

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