Federal Commissioners Weigh-in on Face Biometrics and Digital ID: 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:

UK ICO Warns Against Emotion Detection Tech

The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office is publicly trashing emotion detection technology. As The Guardian reports, Deputy Commissioner Stephen Bonner is warning companies not to use the technology for anything other than entertainment purposes, asserting that “these technologies don’t seem to be backed by science.” Bonner’s comments come ahead of a planned guidance on the use of biometric technologies that the ICO expects to publish in the spring of 2023.

Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Open to Police Use

Scotland’s Biometrics Commissioner is once again signaling an openness to the use of facial recognition by police, given the “appropriate safeguards”. The comments come by way of the first annual report from Commissioner Brain Plastow, who was appointed to the newly established office in 2021. Plastow had previously indicated, when submitting his draft regulation for biometric technology earlier this year, that he was “not opposed to the police using facial recognition technology in the right circumstances, provided that it works, there is a lawful basis for it, and things are done in a proportionate way when they are necessary.”

New Mazda Car Features Facial Recognition

The ‘Homura’ version of Mazda’s new CX-60 hybrid sedan features a ‘Driver Personalisation System’ that uses facial recognition to recognize different drivers, and automatically adjust various car settings – such as seating position and climate control – to the driver’s particular preferences. In an early review, The Car Expert calls it “a neat feature”.

1Kosmos Partners With Ping

1Kosmos’s BlockID solution has been integrated into Ping Identity’s PingOne DaVinci platform, via Ping’s Global Technology Partner Program. The integration means that Ping Identity customers now have access to 1Kosmos’s selfie-based authentication solution through the PingOne DaVinci platform. The latter, meanwhile, ensures that “dynamic user journeys are delivered quickly and efficiently at every stage of the user journey,” Ping SVP Loren Russon explained in a statement.

Veriff Announces SSN Verification

Veriff has launched a Social Security Number verification system for customers in the United States. Users are asked to enter their SSN, name, and either address or date of birth, and the solution will automatically verify whether the information is a match. Veriff added a selfie-based Biometric Authentication solution to its portfolio earlier this year.

Zwipe Charts Biometric Card Progress

Zwipe has issued an operational update, once again emphasizing its progress in the effort toward the mass commercialization of biometric payment cards. The company highlighted its Component Conformity Statement certification from Mastercard, and said that seven of its card issuer partners are working on pilot projects. Zwipe’s revenues came in at NOK 0.8 million, compared to revenues of NOK 0.4 million in Q3 of 2021, while the latest quarter saw net cash flow from operations at NOK -24.2 million, compared to NOK -15.8 million a year ago. Cash and cash equivalents are down from NOK 183.7 million a year ago to NOK 85.8 million at the end of the latest quarter.

iProov Welcomes New Board Member

Former Early Warning and Wells Fargo executive Lou Anne Alexander has joined iProov’s board as a non-executive director. Alexander spent almost 13 years with Early Warning, joining as Chief Market Development Officer in 2009 and departing this year from a role as Chief Product Officer. Before that, she was an SVP with Wells Fargo. “Her illustrious track record in delivering online banking and payment products, and in championing identity security and fraud deterrence, will be of great value to the board as it guides iProov’s global strategy, execution, and governance,” said iProov CEO Andrew Bud.

Canada’s Privacy Regulator Endorses Privacy-focused Digital ID

Canada’s Federal, Provincial and Territorial Privacy Commissioners and Ombuds have issued a formal resolution calling on governments and stakeholders to ensure that privacy and transparency are baked into emerging digital ID programs in the country. Philippe Dufresne, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, called the rise of digital identity technology “a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate how innovation and privacy protection can coexist.”

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October 26, 2022 – by Alex Perala