Biometrics in Policing, Passports, and Deadbolt Locks – 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:

UK Policing Minister Aims for Comprehensive Criminal Search Platform

The United Kingdom’s policing minister, Chris Philp, has revealed plans to integrate data from national databases including the Police National Database and the Passport Office into a single platform that would enable searches based on facial recognition. Philp disclosed the plan in a policy event attached to this week’s Conservative party conference, saying his aim is to have such a system in place in the next two years. His comments come after Philp’s issuance of a formal guidance in August instructing police to pursue all “reasonable lines of enquiry” in their efforts to solve crimes.

UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology Makes Digital ID Mandatory for Online Services

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has announced that it is now mandatory for clients and partner companies to use the UAE Pass digital identity system to access its services online. This effectively enables face-based login, after the UAE started allowing residents to link their faces to their UAE Pass in 2021. The MoIAT says its new policy aligns with the aims of the UAE’s National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, noting that over 16,500 companies have registered for the UAE Pass.

Spanish Court Rules Biometric Access Control System Violated Employees’ Privacy Rights

A Spanish court has ruled that Plastic Forte, a plastics manufacturer, violated the privacy rights of its workers through its collection of their biometric data without the proper disclosures. The company had obtained consent from staff before photographing them, but did not explain that their photos would be used for a face-based biometric access control system — a practice that previously got it in trouble with the Spanish Data Protection Agency. But the latest court ruling focused on Plastic Forte’s failure undertake a proper risk assessment, noting that the benefits of a proposed biometric system must be weighed against its potential privacy infringements, and that in this case, the benefits were minor and alternative access control means could have been offered to staff.

Cameroon Inaugurates New Biometric Passport Center

Cameroon’s General Delegate for National Security (DGSN), Martin Mbarga Nguele, has inaugurated the country’s new biometric passport registration center, located in Douala, the country’s major economic capital. The move follows the opening of a registration center in Yaoundé in 2021, with the latest facility designed to process 650 customers a day. Registration involves the collection of face and fingerprint data. At the inauguration ceremony, the DGSN also announced plans to construct thee new national identity card production centers.

Veriff Launches New Anti-Fraud Services

Veriff has announced new anti-fraud services that build on its selfie-based identity verification technology to offer enhanced protection to businesses and other organizations. One of the new packages, “Fraud Protect”, has a feature that analyzes fraud patterns across Veriff’s customer network to catch repeat offenders, and offers access to Veriff’s in-house fraud experts. The other package, “Fraud Intelligence”, adds a risk scoring system for IDV sessions, and a tool enabling organizations to import their own blacklists of banned customers and users.

ComplyCube Unveils Age Estimation Tool

ComplyCube has launched an “Age Estimation” tool that assesses an end user’s selfie image using biometric and liveness detection technology. While the company already offered an Age Verification tool that matched users to their photo IDs, the Age Estimation system is intended as “an alternative to businesses that require a lower level of identity assurance.” The tool’s launch comes in the wake of the United Kingdom Parliament’s passage of the “Online Safety Bill”, which requires online publishers to implement age verification processes when offering access to sensitive media content.

U-tec Launches New Biometric Deadbolt Lock

California-based U-tec has announced the next generation of its Ultraloq Bolt smart locks, which includes a fingerprint-scanning deadbolt lock, the appropriately-named Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Edition. The device is also compatible with Apple HomeKit, Apple’s smart home platform. And it is compatible with Apple Home Key, a system that lets iPhone users unlock a door using their smartphone.

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October 3, 2023 – by Alex Perala