Et Voila: New Privacy Laws Take Effect – 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:

Québec Privacy Law Comes Into Force

New privacy regulations have now come into effect in the Canadian province of Québec. Among other things, “Law 25” requires companies to inform the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec (the ‘Québec Access to Information Commission’) if they are using biometrics for any kind of identity verification. The provision took effect at the end of last week, on September 22. The Commission offers a checklist resource for businesses aimed at helping them ensure compliance.

Moody’s Questions Aadhaar Reliability

A report from the credit rating agency Moody’s has called into question Aadhaar, India’s biometric national ID program. In a report, Moody’s said that Aadhaar often results in service denials, and questioned whether biometric systems can reliably identify all citizens, noting that manual laborers in hot and humid environmental conditions may encounter issues with fingerprint scans. The Indian government has retorted that Moody’s failed to cite and primary or secondary research in its report, and that it failed to note Aadhaar’s use of contactless biometrics including face and iris recognition. The government also insisted that there have never been any data breaches concerning the Aadhaar database, a contention that contradicts multiple previous security claims.

Georgia Man Sues Detective, Sheriff Over Wrongful Arrest

A Georgia man has filed a lawsuit against two law enforcement officers stemming from their use of facial recognition technology in his wrongful arrest. Randal Quran was detained for six days for allegedly using a stolen credit card to make purchases in Louisiana, a state he has never visited. His lawsuit alleges that detective Andrew Bartholomew sought his arrest based solely on a facial recognition match from surveillance video, and also names Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto as a defendant for failing to implement adequate policies concerning the police force’s use of facial recognition.

Mercedes-Benz, Mastercard Launch Biometric Fuel Payment System in Germany

Mercedes-Benz drivers with compatible car models in Germany can now pay for gas via an in-car fingerprint scan, thanks to a partnership with Mastercard. The payment goes through Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX infotainment system — a system called “Mercedes me Fuel & Pay”, and is supported at more than 3,600 gas stations in the country. The news comes after Mercedes-Benz announced plans to trial a similar system in partnership with Visa in 2021. Earlier this year, the car brand implemented its biometric payment system, “Mercedes pay+”, in car models in the EQS, EQE, S-Class, C-Class, and GLC series.

Biometric Access System at Brazilian Soccer Stadium Identifies Fugitives, Missing Persons

A face-based biometric entry system implemented by the Brazilian soccer club Palmeiras has led to the arrests of 28 wanted criminals across just four games, according to the Sao Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP). It has also been used to identify 253 missing persons. The system is designed to match an individual entering the Allianz Parque stadium to their ticket, but has evidently aided in a number of police investigations.

IDEX Names New CFO

IDEX Biometrics has appointed John T. Kurtzweil as its new Chief Financial Officer. Kurzweil comes to the company from Metabolon, a US-based life sciences firm, where as CFO he was “pivotal in revitalizing the company,” according to a statement announcing his new position at IDEX. He has also served as CFO with Cirrus Logic, CREE, and ON Semiconductor. At IDEX, he succeeds interim CFO Eileen Wynne, who will stay on a consultant during Kurtzeil’s transition to his new role.

Veridas Joins SIA

Veridas, a Spain-based company known for its face and voice biometrics technologies, has joined the Security Industry Association. In a statement, the company explained that membership would allow other SIA members to take advantage of Veridas’s specialized knowledge while offering Veridas access to the SIA’s industry network and resources. “Becoming a member of SIA enables us to work collaboratively towards excelling the industry’s capabilities and promoting responsible use of advanced technologies,” said CEO Eduardo Azanza. The news comes after Veridas joined the Open Identity Exchange in August.

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September 25, 2023 – by Alex Perala