China Strives for Super SIMs – 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:

Aadhaar-Linked Tax Pilots Postponed

Planned pilot programs to explore the use of Aadhaar and geotagging in India’s Goods and Services Tax system have been postponed due to internal government disagreements about how to enable access to the country’s sprawling identity database, according to a new report. The crux of the disagreement appears to be that state authorities had wanted direct access to Aadhaar databases, while the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which administrates Aadhaar, had wanted access mediated through the Goods and Services Tax Network. The pilots are now expected to take place in the 2025 fiscal year.

Myanmar Consults With China On Census Plan, Biometric Tech

Myanmar’s military government, which took power through a coup in 2021, may be planning to work with Chinese partners to implement biometric surveillance tools. The junta’s immigration minister, Myint Kyain, paid a diplomatic visit to China this week, in part to seek assistance concerning the country’s next census, expected in October of next year. Kyaing also visited Beijing Hisign Technology Co Ltd., a company that offers biometric solutions including facial, fingerprint, and palm print recognition, as well as license plate and recognition, among other products.

Virginia’s Biometric Parolee Monitoring Unit Wins STAR Award

The Virginia Department of Corrections’ (VADOC) Voice Verification Biometrics Unit (VVBU) has won the State Transformation in Action Recognition (STAR) Award for 2023, bestowed by the Southern Legislative Conference. First launched in 2016, the VVBU uses facial and voice recognition technologies provided by Shadowtrack Technologies to monitor low-risk probationers and parolees across the state. The biometric technology enables a team of just eight VVBU staff to monitor 11,000 probationers at a time.

UK Government Publishes Anekanta AI Risk Intelligence Case Study

The UK government has published a case study on Anekanta AI’s AI Risk Intelligence System, which revolves around the use of a detailed questionnaire for developers and users of “high-risk AI” systems, with a focus on biometric technologies. The system is aimed at standardizing how such technologies are used and understood. Anekanta AI is a private company, and its case study was jointly published by the UK government’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, and the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

TECH5’s T5-AirSnap Finger Reaches PAD Level 1

TECH5’s T5-AirSnap Finger solution has successfully passed iBeta’s Presentation Attack Detection Level 1 evaluation program, affirming compliance with the ISO 30107-3 standard. TECH5’s software successfully fended off all spoofing attacks in iBeta’s testing regime, and at the same time avoided falsely flagging any live fingers as spoofs. First unveiled in 2021, T5-AirSnap Finger is designed to enable the contactless capture of fingerprints using a standard smartphone camera. TECH5 recently obtained a US patent for technology involved in the system.

New Partnership Extends Reach of ITL’s Age Estimation System

UK-based Innovative Technology Ltd. (“ITL”) has further extended the market reach of its biometric age estimation technology in Europe through a distribution partnership with Zahlungssysteme Cassani, a Swiss distributor of money processing and payment systems serving the vending, retail, gaming, and kiosk industries. In addition to offering ITL’s “MyCheckr” age estimation tech to its customers, Zahlungssysteme Cassani will also offer products including ITL’s banknote validators and recyclers. Earlier this summer, a German liquor store franchisee adopted ITL’s MyCheckr solution, attesting that it helped staff to be more certain of when to ask customers for ID.

Chinese Telecoms Integrate Digital ID Into ‘Super SIM’

Chine mobile operators including China Mobile are working on new ‘Super SIM cards’ designed to perform multiple functionalities including serving as a digital ID and wallet, according to new reports. The Super SIMs can be integrated into a smartphone or into a standard form factor ID card, and are part of a broader push in China to promote the development and use of Central Bank Digital Currencies. A domestic outlet reports that the MNOs are working on enhanced authentication and identification capabilities that will be added to the Super SIMs in the future, but their mechanisms aren’t yet clear.

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September 21, 2023 – by Alex Perala