Egypt’s New FinTech Rules and New Orleans’ Facial Recognition Flop – 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:

Egypt Requires Digital ID, Biometrics for Certain FinTech Transactions

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued a trio of decrees concerning the use of financial technology in ‘Non-Banking Financial Services and Activities (NBFSA)’, with one in particular mandating a need for the use of biometrics in digital identity. Decree No. 140 establishes the ‘Digital Identification Process’ that must be used when individuals are engaging in fintech interactions with NBFSA entities, including the need to verify individuals based on something they know, something they have, and their biometrics.

Bermuda Plans Traffic Surveillance Network

The Bermudan government is preparing to deploy a network of CCTV cameras with face scanning and license plate recognition capabilities as part of an effort to crack down on traffic offences. To that end the government has contracted Digicel, a Jamaica-based mobile network operator, to lead the deployment of over 250 cameras within the next 25 weeks, with the cameras to run on its fibre and LTE networks. Ultimately, the aim is to enable automatic emails of traffic tickets.

Ryanair Faces Privacy Complaint Over Facial Recognition

NOYB, a Europe-based privacy activist group, has filed a formal complaint about the airline Ryanair’s use of facial recognition technology to verify the identities of travelers booking through online travel agents. The complaint has been filed with Spain’s data protection agency on behalf of a traveler who booked a flight through the Spanish travel agency eDreams Odigeo. Ryanair does not require the use of facial recognition for bookings through its own website or app, and NOYB says it requires the biometric system for travel agencies “to obtain an unfair competitive advantage”. Ryanair says travel agencies often make mistakes in processing customer information, and that its facial recognition requirement is meant to help avoid complications that would otherwise result for travelers.

New Orleans Police Have Barely Used Facial Recognition Since Ban’s Overturn

Nine months after New Orleans police were once again permitted to use facial recognition to investigate violent crimes, the technology has led to zero arrests, according to an official report from a City Council consultant. The city had banned the police from using facial recognition in 2020, and reversed the ban last summer amid a surge in New Orleans’ homicide rate. Yet since that time, the New Orleans Police Department has only recorded 15 facial recognition search requests through its partner the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Exchange. None have led to an arrest, though two of the searches that found a match pertain to investigations that are still ongoing.

Xiaomi Launches Face-Scanning Lock

Xiaomi has launched a new biometric smart lock in the China market. The Smart Door Lock M20 Pro features facial recognition based on structured-light 3D scanning, establishing a 30,000-point grid on a user’s face. Xiaomi claims it has a false recognition rate of 0.0001 percent. The smart lock also features an integrated fingerprint sensor, and supports NFC and Bluetooth communications. It’s currently being offered at a discount through presale, but will have a price tag of 2,999 yuan, or about $419, after it hits store shelves.

Ohio Forensics Lab Opts for AwareABIS

The Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory and Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Ohio will use Aware, Inc.’s AwareABIS solution for the biometric intake and release of subjects. “As a cloud-based solution, AwareABIS greatly alleviates our dependence on internal IT resources and physical hardware,” explained Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger. “AwareABIS is easy to use, and delivers fast, accurate fingerprint and palmprint identification, for the 70-member law enforcement agencies we serve.” Aware says its technology is now being used to help solve criminal investigations in 26 states.

ABM Goes Passwordless With AuthID

ABM, a facilities maintenance specialist, will use biometric technology from AuthID to enhance enterprise security. The company has a workforce of 100,000, deployed across a number of sectors including aviation, education, healthcare, and hospitality. With ABM’s planned implementation of AuthID technology, its workers will be able to access corporate assets through a face scan, and without the need to enter complex passwords. The news comes just a couple of weeks after AuthID announced the appointment of three new sales executives, further transforming its leadership after a major corporate overhaul earlier this year.

Australian Finance Minister Wants Digital ID Next Summer (But Don’t Hold Her to That)

Australia’s new digital ID system could materialize as early as next summer, suggest comments from the country’s Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher. Speaking at the Australian Financial Review’s recent Government Services Summit, Gallagher said she hopes to have the system launched by the middle of next year — though she hedged a little, saying, “That’s a pretty tight timeframe, so I don’t want to be held to that.” The Department of Finance recently took over responsibility for the program from the Digital Transformation Agency, right after the Australian government issued a “National Strategy for Identity Resilience” that emphasized the importance of digital credentials and biometrics.

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July 27, 2023 – by Alex Perala