Welcome to ID Tech’s digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
Photobucket Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over AI Data Sale Plans
Photobucket is facing a class action lawsuit over its updated privacy policy, which disclosed plans to sell users’ photos and biometric data to companies developing generative AI models. The lawsuit alleges violations of privacy laws in states like Illinois, New York, and California, citing the platform’s failure to obtain explicit consent. It identifies two affected groups: users who uploaded photos between 2003 and May 1, 2024, and non-users whose images were uploaded and biometric data potentially collected without consent. Key claims include the sale of biometric identifiers like face and iris scans, with potential damages of $5,000 per violation under laws such as Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
Australia Issues Strict Privacy Guidelines for Commercial Facial Recognition Technology
Australia’s Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has issued guidelines for private sector organizations deploying facial recognition technology (FRT) in commercial settings, emphasizing the heightened protection of biometric data under the Privacy Act. The guidelines require explicit consent for biometric data collection, justified by necessity for organizational functions, and mandate a “privacy by design” approach to ensure less invasive alternatives are considered. Transparency is critical, with organizations needing to provide clear, specific notifications about FRT use, as general mentions of “video surveillance” are deemed insufficient. Technical requirements include ensuring system accuracy and addressing bias through regular testing. Organizations must conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) or document reasons for their omission and establish governance structures for risk management and compliance reviews.
Daon Partners with Oracle to Enhance Digital Banking Security
Daon has partnered with Oracle to enhance digital identity solutions by integrating Daon’s biometric authentication platform, IdentityX, with Oracle’s identity management services. Hosted on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, the collaboration enables applications protected by Oracle to use Daon’s biometric methods, such as facial and fingerprint recognition, while adhering to FIDO2 WebAuthn standards for passwordless authentication. The partnership focuses on digital banking security and regulatory compliance, leveraging Daon’s expertise in biometric technology and Oracle’s scalable cloud infrastructure.
authID Partners with TurboCheck to Combat Hiring Fraud with Biometric Verification
authID has partnered with TurboCheck to integrate biometric identity verification services into the staffing and recruiting platform, addressing challenges in the $200 billion industry, such as AI-generated fake identities and wage fraud. The system combines document validation with facial biometric matching, verifying government-issued IDs against user selfies with a speed of 700 milliseconds. The integration enhances remote onboarding processes, reducing risks associated with fraudulent applications.
French Logistics Giant Pilots Zwipe Biometric Access Cards
A leading French logistics company is piloting Zwipe Access biometric cards to enhance security and modernize access control systems. The initiative addresses growing security demands in the logistics sector, where protecting valuable assets and maintaining strict access protocols is crucial. Zwipe Access uses biometric authentication for identity verification, mitigating unauthorized access risks while providing a seamless user experience. The pilot follows similar implementations by a major U.S. social media company and a global luxury brand, reflecting rising adoption of biometric access technology.
Dock Launches Biometric Cloud Wallet Recovery and Expands into Asian Banking with Moon Lab Partnership
Dock has introduced a Credential Recovery feature for its Digital ID Wallet and announced a partnership with Moon Lab to develop digital ID solutions for banking in Asia. The Credential Recovery feature secures verifiable credentials with cloud-based backups using biometric encryption, addressing the risk of credential loss when devices are compromised or replaced. Credentials are encrypted and decrypted exclusively within users’ wallets, ensuring secure data management. The partnership with Moon Lab leverages Dock’s expertise in verifiable credentials and Moon Lab’s blockchain services to enhance digital identity verification for financial platforms in Asia, reflecting rising demand for secure ID solutions in the region.
Tools for Humanity Acquires Modulus Labs to Boost Zero-Knowledge AI and Cryptography Research
Tools for Humanity (TFH), a key developer of the World Network digital identity platform, has integrated Modulus Labs to form an Applied Research team focused on cryptographic and machine learning advancements. Modulus Labs has contributed to TFH’s infrastructure by creating zero-knowledge (ZK) data commitment schemes for private custody of human verification data and a security library for verifiable AI authentications in the World App. The partnership enhances the World ID system and AMPC protocol, securing millions of mobile devices for privacy-preserving computation authentication.
ROC Appoints Former DoD Biometrics Expert Sam Cava as Strategic Advisor
ROC has appointed Sam Cava as Strategic Advisor, bringing over 30 years of experience in biometric systems for federal agencies. Cava, a former U.S. Air Force officer, was instrumental in developing the Department of Defense’s ABIS, which recently transitioned to cloud infrastructure and incorporated voice recognition. He also spearheaded the Biometric Identification System for Access (BISA) to secure U.S. military personnel and facilities and negotiated biometric data exchanges with allies. Before joining ROC, Cava held leadership roles at the FBI and the DoD Biometrics Fusion Center, contributing to high-profile investigations with the Digital Content Analysis Platform (DCAP).
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December 12, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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