From Hong Kong to Pakistan to Scotland, Police Grapple With Biometric Tech – 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:

Wisconsin Launches ‘AI Task Force’

State lawmakers in Wisconsin have established an “Artificial Intelligence Task Force” that will assess various AI tools, including facial recognition technology, and their use in elections, business, and the public sector. Led by chair Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Neenah) and vice-chair Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska), the task force will focus on ethical issues pertaining to the technologies. “This task force represents an opportunity to ensure that Wisconsin remains a leader in responsible AI development, benefiting all sectors of our society,” said Gustafson.

Guyana Opposition Leader Demands Biometric Voter Verification

The leader of Guyana’s opposition party, People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), has suggested that if biometric voter verification is not implemented in an election scheduled for 2025, the result may be rejected. Aubrey Norton made the comments in a diaspora meeting in Queens, New York, where he expressed confidence that the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will heed his party’s calls for such a system. A PNCR-led coalition had accused the PPP of rigging elections in 2020 through fraud at the ballot box.

Hong Kong Fraudsters Used Deepfake Tech to Spoof Biometric Authentication System: Police

Police in Hong Kong have arrested six individuals accused of an elaborate fraud scheme that involved the use of deepfake technology to fool a bank’s authentication system. Between last September and July of this year, the group had stolen at least eight ID cards and used them to open 54 bank accounts. They are also accused of making up to 90 loan applications, with four, amounting to HK$200,000, having been approved. Police say the group succeeded only once in using a face swap program to spoof a bank’s authentication process, though it isn’t clear how many attempts were made.

Pakistani Police Seek Biometric Upgrade in Fight Against Militants

Police in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are planning technological upgrades to aid in their fight against militant groups in the region. Speaking to Dawn, an unnamed “senior official” said that the police department is planning to procure gadgets including thermal weapon detection systems and “ballistic goggles”, and indicated that there are plans to upgrade a multi-layer security system including facial recognition and license plate detection capabilities. The official also said that the police force is currently planning to implement social media monitoring tools this year, in collaboration with the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, USAID, AUSAID, and the European Union, according to the report.

Scottish Police Board Approves £400M Digital Transformation Plan

The Scottish Police Authority Board has approved Police Scotland’s request for £400 million in funding for a five-year digital transformation plan, which could entail the introduction of facial recognition tools. Authorities have made no formal commitments to do so, but a paper presented by the SPA’s Chief Digital Information Officer made a point of noting “artificial intelligence, machine learning and facial recognition” as examples of emerging technologies that could be considered “for introduction into operational policing after the appropriate data ethics assessments have taken place.” The immediate priority, according to SPA chairman Martyn Evans, is to roll out body-worn cameras.

Trulio Upgrades KYC Tool for Businesses

Vancouver-based Trulioo has upgraded its Workflow Studio platform, which offers businesses tools for automated customer onboarding and KYC compliance. The platform now has an AI-driven streamlining process designed to find the best transaction chains for the verification of a given user. As the company explains, the system dynamically adjusts “in real-time to customers’ PII and funnel them to the most optimized onboarding workflow.” In June, the company revealed that its Know Your Business verification service had seen adoption increase 586 percent in the US since 2020.

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August 25, 2023 – by Alex Perala