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:
Amid Remarkable Growth, Keyless Leverages Expert Advisory Team for Global Expansion
Keyless has reported a 657 percent increase in annual recurring revenue for 2024, projecting further growth to 780 percent by year’s end. Its partnership with a major European bank saved $4.1 million in help desk and SMS OTP expenses, reduced account takeover fraud by 77 percent, and improved account recovery times through facial biometric authentication. The company introduced the Keyless IDV Bridge, which integrates identity verification and authentication processes using its patented technology to shard biometric data for enhanced security. Keyless has also expanded its advisory board with industry veterans and aims to strengthen its presence in Europe and the US. Founded in 2019, the company focuses on privacy-preserving biometric authentication and offers Zero-Knowledge Biometrics that authenticate users without storing data.
Former BMW and Deutsche Bank CFO Stefan Krause Joins artius.iD’s Advisory Board
Former BMW Group and Deutsche Bank CFO Stefan Krause has joined artius.iD’s Board of Strategic Advisors, bringing over three decades of executive leadership experience to the cybersecurity and digital identity solutions provider. artius.iD specializes in decentralized identity management technologies aimed at multinational corporations and small-to-medium businesses. Krause’s background, which includes roles at BMW Group, Deutsche Bank, Rolls-Royce, and Allianz AG, positions him to guide artius.iD as digital identity solutions increasingly converge across the finance and automotive sectors. The company recently expanded its advisory board with Burton M. Goldfield and Ed Watal, emphasizing its focus on secure, self-managed identity solutions and quantum encryption resilience technologies.
Security Expert Bruce Schneier Joins Nametag’s Advisory Board
Renowned security expert and cryptographer Bruce Schneier has joined the Advisory Board of Nametag Inc., a Seattle-based provider of integrated identity verification and account protection solutions. Schneier brings decades of expertise in security and cryptography, bolstered by his roles at Harvard University and his authorship of 14 books, including the widely-read Schneier on Security blog. Nametag’s platform addresses threats like AI-generated identity fraud and digital injection attacks through integrations with identity management platforms such as Okta, Cisco Duo, and Microsoft Entra. The company recently launched its Deepfake Defense feature to counter emerging threats. Schneier’s appointment coincides with rising concerns about deepfake fraud, as highlighted by the U.S. Treasury.
Germany’s BSI Awards €384K Contract for National Biometric Matching System Maintenance
Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has awarded a 13-month, €383,685.75 contract for the maintenance and updates of its National Biometric Matching Service 2.0 (NBMS 2.0). The Java-based system supports biometric operations like quality evaluation, verification, and identification for federal authorities, using REST-based workflows and access control mechanisms. The contract includes bug fixes, system optimizations, and performance improvements to support Germany’s growing biometric and digital identity infrastructure, which now incorporates facial recognition for law enforcement. The NBMS 2.0 system is central to Germany’s biometric matching capabilities, ensuring secure identity verification as the country advances initiatives like the European Digital Identity Wallet. Maintenance will be performed primarily off-site, with oversight from BSI in Bonn.
NZ Privacy Commissioner Opens Public Consultation on Biometrics Code
New Zealand Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster has opened public consultation on a proposed biometrics code, designed to regulate high-risk applications and strengthen transparency in biometric data collection. The draft code includes requirements for organizations to perform proportionality tests and justify the necessity of biometric systems over reasonable alternatives. It restricts facial recognition technology for analyzing emotions, predicting criminal behavior, or categorizing individuals based on appearance or political views, aligning with the European Union’s AI Act. The new proposal removes a previously suggested ban on web-scraping biometric data but retains limits on unfair and intrusive collection practices. Accompanying the draft are 100 pages of guidance for agencies deploying biometric systems.
Colorado Updates Privacy Act with New Biometric Data Rules
Colorado has proposed amendments to its Privacy Act (CPA) to introduce stricter rules for biometric data handling and enhanced online privacy protections for minors, effective July 1, 2025. Businesses collecting biometric data such as fingerprints or facial geometry must provide detailed notices outlining the data’s purpose, retention period, and sharing arrangements, and obtain explicit consent. Employers are additionally required to secure written or electronic permissions from employees. The amendments also introduce measures for minors’ online privacy, mandating parental consent for data processing, data retention limitations, and protection assessments for engagement features, effective October 1, 2025. Businesses can request opinion letters from the Attorney General for compliance guidance, offering potential liability defenses.
ADOT Uses Facial Recognition to Solve DUI Identity Theft Case in Arizona
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) used facial recognition technology to solve an identity theft case linked to a DUI arrest, exonerating an innocent person and identifying the actual offender. Phoenix police arrested Orlando Garcia on September 8, 2024, after finding him unconscious in a vehicle with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit. Garcia provided false identification details to avoid aggravated DUI charges, signing official documents under another identity. ADOT’s Office of Inspector General conducted a biometric image review, comparing the arrest photo with official records and confirming Garcia’s identity through facial recognition and tattoo analysis. This led to the clearing of the victim’s record and new charges against Garcia, including forgery, aggravated DUI, and criminal impersonation.
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December 18, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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