Deals, Data Breaches, and Trucker Biometrics: Identity News Digest

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know today:

Deals and Contracts

Simeio, a managed services provider specializing in Identity and Access Management solutions, will offer 1Kosmos’s BlockID platform to its customers. BlockID uses facial recognition to match end user’s selfie images to images of their official IDs, and stores encrypted user data across a private distributed ledger. Simeio CEO Chris Schueler explained that the 1Kosmos partnership will help his firm to transition clients from legacy systems to passwordless authentication.

NEXT Biometrics has received an order valued at NOK 2.4 million from XM Holder, a China-based distributor. The order pertains to multiple different NEXT fingerprint sensors, which will reach new customers in Asia. In a statement, NEXT asserted that XM Holder could “secure new design wins within the Payment & Fintech segment.” Shipments will begin this year.

Assetz Capital will use LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ RiskNarrative platform to enhance its onboarding process, particularly with respect to AML and KYC compliance. RiskNarrative is promoted primarily for its automation capabilities and the ease with which it can be deployed.

Regulatory Developments

Scotland is poised to implement a code of practice around the use of biometric technologies and data in policing and criminal justice. The regulations are expected to be presented to Scottish Parliament on September 7, and to take legal effect on November 16. A draft version of the code was passed by Parliament earlier this year without amendment.

Data Breaches

Hack attacks are by far the top cause of data breaches, according to a study by Flashpoint. The threat intelligence platform provider found that there were 1,980 reported data breaches worldwide in the first half of 2022, and that about 60 percent of all such breaches were due to unauthorized access to organizations’ systems. Flashpoint also found that about 23 percent of breaches with a known origin came from company insiders, but in most of those cases it was the result of mistakes in handling data, rather than malicious intent.

Police Biometrics

A Baltimore City councilor is hoping to help the city find a balanced way for police to use facial recognition once a ban on the technology expires in December. Councilman Kristerfer Burnett plans to present extensive research, including findings on algorithmic racial bias and the issue of consent among citizens. The effort comes after New Orleans re-instated the use of facial recognition, with new guardrails, in an effort to stymie rising rates of violent crime.

Long-haul Biometrics

Researchers at Australia’s Griffith University will use biometric vests to monitor signs of fatigue among truck drivers. The researchers received almost $200,000 in funding for the project from the Office of Road Safety, an arm of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. The project will use Hexoskin smart shirts equipped with sensors to track heart and respiratory rates.

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August 16, 2022 – by Alex Perala