Entrust, IDEX, and Precise Biometrics Make Moves: 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:

Bank of Pakistan Mandates Facial Recognition for Customer Verification

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed the country’s financial institutions and microfinance banks to implement new security measures including facial recognition for customer verification before the end of 2023. Institutions that fail to implement the security measures will be liable for any customers’ financial losses to fraud, and will be required to compensate them within three working days of the fraud being reported. Institutions must submit monthly progress reports on their efforts to implement the security measures to the SBP’s Banking Supervision Department.

Police Biometrics Bill Proceeds Through California Assembly

A bill aimed at establishing guidelines for the police use of facial recognition in California has been approved by the state Assembly’s public safety committee. The bill would prohibit police from making an arrest solely on the basis of a facial recognition match, and would require police agencies to draft formal policies concerning their use of the technology. It now faces a vote from the Assembly’s committee on privacy and consumer protection.

Orient Express Nixes UK Route Ahead of Biometric Border Requirement

Ahead of the implementation of biometric border checks for travelers from the United Kingdom, the operator of Europe’s historic Orient Express rail route is preparing to end the British leg of the tour. Starting in 2024, travelers will no longer be able to start their journey in London; instead, the Orient Express will begin in Paris before heading east across the continent. Speaking to The Observer, a spokesperson for the rail service explained that the operator’s management “want to avoid any risk of travel disruption for our guests”. While biometric checks for travelers crossing the border are expected to be implemented in November of this year, there have already been significant border delays between the UK and France due to policy changes stemming from Brexit.

Entrust to Provide Biometric Immigration App for UK Home Office

Entrust has won a two-year contract to provide the United Kingdom’s Home Office with a biometric immigration solution. Linking with Home Office online application processes, the solution uses a mobile app to scan an end user’s chip-embedded passport. It also prompts the user to take a selfie photo, which is compared to the biometric data stored on their passport’s chip. Liveness detection is used to ensure the end user is present. Entrust says the solution will support the pending UK Electronic Travel Authorization scheme, due to begin in late 2023, and could apply to 30 million travelers annually. The contract entails options to extend the project for two additional years.

Nigerian State Requires Biometric Registration for Rickshaw Drivers

Drivers of the Keke Napep, a motorized rickshaw that offers a popular mode of transportation in Nigeria, will need to register their biometric data thanks to a new directive from authorities in Abia State. According to a report from the Daily Post, the biometric registration will be undertaken by Keke Napep driver unions, with drivers’ permits conditional on the biometric registration. It isn’t yet clear what specific biometric data will be collected, or when registrations will be due.

IDEX Nominates Next Board Chair

IDEX Biometrics’ nominations committee has chosen the deputy chair of its board, Larry Ciaccia, to succeed current Chairman Morten Opstad, pending shareholder approval at the company’s Annual General Meeting in late May. The former CEO of AuthenTec, Ciaccia has been on the IDEX board since May of 2015. His nomination for Chairman comes after IDEX’s proclamation in a February business update that the biometric card market it has helped to pioneer had reached “an inflection point” in 2022.

Precise Targets US Visitor Management Market With New Partnership

Precise Biometrics is targeting the American access control market through a new reseller partnership with Flowscape Technology. Like Precise, Flowscape is based in Sweden; but it has a San Francisco-based US subsidiary, Flowscape Inc., through which it will market Precise’s biometric-scanning access control solution for visitor management. The “Eastcoast Visit” solution, drawing its name from the Swedish visitor management firm acquired by Precise Biometrics in 2021, will be marketed under the brand “YOUNiQ Visit” in the US.

Yahoo Japan Trials Biometric Payments

Yahoo Japan has begun trialing a biometric payments system at a convenience store in Tokyo, enabling users to purchase goods with a face scan. Interested shoppers must first register their face on mobile, linking their biometrics to a payment account. Organized by Yahoo Japan’s ID Division, the pilot could pave the way for a wider rollout across convenience stores and supermarkets. Originally formed as a joint venture between Yahoo! and SoftBank, Yahoo Japan is a major telecom in the country that also operates physical retail stores. It recently announced support for the passkey mobile biometric authentication system.

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April 17, 2023 – by Alex Perala

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