Government Programs, Airport Upgrades, and a ‘Metasurface’ Breakthrough

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:

Researchers Detail Efficient, Alternative Approach to 3D Face Mapping

Researchers in Taiwan have developed an alternative approach to 3D face mapping that swaps conventional optical sensor systems based on structured light for a novel approach based on metasurface-based light manipulation. It might sound more complicated, but the research team says its alternative system uses a smaller surface area and less energy, while delivering solid results in terms of face mapping and facial recognition. Read our full story.

Vietnam to Collect Unconventional Biometrics in New ID Program

Vietnam’s Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, has requested that the Ministry of Public Security begin collecting citizens’ biometric data for a new ID program starting July 1, 2024, when a new ‘Law on Citizen Identification’ is slated to come into effect. Some unusual types of biometric data will reportedly be collected for the national ID system, including voice samples, iris biometrics, and even DNA. Previously, the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order had been in charge of issuance of new ID cards, but that responsibility will be handed over to the Ministry of Public Security for the new ID program. The Ministry has previously worked with NEC to issue chip-based ID cards to citizens.

Pangea, TECH5 Deliver Biometric Voter Registration System for Jamaica

Pangea and TECH5 have delivered a biometric voter registry to the government of Jamaica. Pangea won the contract from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica through a public tender, and looked to TECH’s T5-OmniMatch ABIS solution to provide a technological foundation for a centralized system that can register and verify voters via fingerprint and face biometrics. The project involved the migration of an existing, decade-old fingerprint processing system, with the new, joint solution supporting the registration of four million voters. A Jamaica-based IT firm has been subcontracted to provide ongoing maintenance and support services.

Biometric Passenger Screening Projects Underway in Nigeria, Uganda

Biometric screening technology has been deployed at all of Nigeria’s international airports, clearing the way for an expedited passenger processing system to go live in March. Speaking at a media event, Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the system will screen each traveler in just 30 seconds. Biometric gates have been set up at airports in Lagos, Abuja, Portharcourt, Kano, and Enugu. Minister Tunji-Ojo said that the screening systems were not only meant to enhance the traveler experience, but that they add an extra layer to the country’s National Security Architecture.

Across the continent, Uganda’s main international airport now has biometric self-service kiosks for Ugandan citizens holding e-passports. The kiosks prompt travelers at the Entebbe International Airport to hold their passport over a scanner, select their flight information, and to then look up at a camera above the screen, informing them that it will “match your facial features with the record in the ABC”, presumably referring to an Automated Border Control system. If the match is successful, the kiosk will issue a ticket with a barcode that can be scanned at an e-gate, where another “face capture” session will be required.

Trucker Dash Cam Company Faces Another BIPA Lawsuit

Another proposed class action lawsuit has been filed against Samsara, a dash cam provider for the trucking industry, under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act. The lawsuit alleges that Samsara’s “AI Dash Cam” collected and stored truckers’ biometric data without meeting BIPA’s consent and disclosure requirements. Samsara had previously been named a defendant in a lawsuit primarily aimed at a trucking company that used its dash cams, though that lawsuit was dismissed after Samsara argued both that third party vendors shouldn’t be held accountable for their clients’ actions, and that it had provided its customers with a sample BIPA policy and consent form, and required them to get drivers’ consent.

Turkish Bank Launches Fingerprint-Scanning Card

Garanti BBVA, a major private bank in Turkey, has launched a fingerprint-scanning payment card. In a statement, Garanti BBVA Deputy General Manager and Garanti BBVA Payment Systems Board Member Murat Çağrı Süzer explained that the Bonus Platinum Biometric Card allows customers to “make secure payments quickly and easily by simply scanning their fingerprints,” and emphasized the convenience of not having to remember a PIN or to adhere to any limits for contactless transactions. The card is the result of a collaboration between Garanti and Mastercard, whose GM for Turkey and Azerbaijan, Avşar Gürdal, said that Mastercard has “adopted biometric payment authentication as one of the cornerstones of our security infrastructure”.

South Korean Firm Announces AI-Infused Kiosk

South Korea-based AI Robotics has announced that it has entered the commercialization phase of a “generative AI hardware device” dubbed “Stella”. The device is essentially a screen interface kiosk mounted on a robotic arm. It integrates multiple Large Language Models”, including OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Meta’s LLaMa, enabling voice-based interaction with users; and it features facial recognition and gesture recognition, both of which help it to interact with users. AI Robotics says it will officially unveil Stella at MWC 2024 in Barcelona.

Toronto VC Firm Backs Crypto Wallet Project

Serenity Shield has established a partnership with Toronto-based BitValue Capital, a crypto-focused investment and venture capital firm that will now back Serenity Shield’s efforts to launch a hardware wallet for the storage of cryptocurrencies and NFTs. The wallet will prominently feature a fingerprint scanner for biometric access. Another notable feature is its planned approach to seed phrase storage for wallet recovery: Serenity Shield will split a seed phrase into three parts, and store each one as a unique NFT, ensuring that access to a user’s private keys is distributed, and not stored in a centralized location. The companies have not disclosed the size or form of BitValue’s backing of Serenity Shield.

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February 20, 2024 – by Alex Perala