ID Tech Digest – December 2, 2024

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:

Nvidia Announces AI Voice Model

Nvidia has unveiled an AI model that can create and manipulate audio, including voices, music, and other sounds. Dubbed “Fugatto”, for “Foundational Generative Audio Transformer Opus 1”, the model was built on generative transformer architecture with 2.5 billion parameters, and is being pitched at applications in music production, film and video game sound design, and language learning, among other areas. There appear to be potential applications in the domain of deepfakes, as well.

Digital ID Entitles Students to Cheaper Bus Fare in UK’s Midlands and Coventry

National Express West Midlands has partnered with digital ID provider Yoti to enable students in the West Midlands and Coventry to access discounted bus fares through a secure digital ID. Students can use the Yoti app to upload a photo and their academic email address to create a verified digital ID, replacing physical cards. The initiative simplifies proof of student status for discounted travel and aligns with Yoti’s broader mission to offer secure, efficient identification solutions.

Ethiopia Mandates Digital ID for Banking Transactions

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) will require all bank branches in Addis Ababa to verify customers’ identities using the Fayda ID digital identification system starting January 1, 2025, with a nationwide rollout to major cities by July 1, 2025. Fayda ID incorporates biometric enrollment and is part of Ethiopia’s Digital ID for Inclusion and Services Project, aiming to enhance financial inclusion and transaction security. The system will streamline banking processes while reducing risks of fraud and money laundering. This initiative reflects Ethiopia’s broader digital transformation, including the recent implementation of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to strengthen digital security across sectors.

Kerala State Secretariat Completes Biometric Attendance System Implementation

The Kerala State Secretariat has fully implemented a biometric attendance system, replacing traditional registers to enhance efficiency and transparency in administrative processes. Linked to the SPARK payroll and HR management system, the system automates attendance tracking, reducing manual errors and improving record accuracy. This initiative aligns with broader trends in India, where biometric systems are increasingly adopted to improve accountability, such as in higher education institutions. Integrated with Kerala’s eOffice portal, the system complements ongoing digital transformation efforts aimed at streamlining government operations and improving accessibility for citizens.

Lastwall CEO Warns of Quantum Threat’s Looming “Q-Day”

This week on the ID Talk podcast, Karl Holmqvist, Founder and CEO of Lastwall, discusses cybersecurity challenges posed by quantum computing. He explores how behavioral and cognitive biometrics are transforming authentication and addresses the urgent need for quantum-resilient systems to secure critical infrastructure. Drawing from his experience advising governments and organizations like the White House and NATO, Karl provides practical strategies for transitioning to a new security paradigm. “We only know one thing: we’re either going to deploy quantum-resilient cryptography too early or too late,” he warns.

Maldivian Government Drops SumSub Over Israel Ties

The Maldives government has replaced Sum and Substance Private Limited (SumSub) with Regular Forensics as the provider of facial recognition services for its eFaas digital identity portal. This decision by the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) follows public backlash over SumSub’s Israeli ownership, which clashed with local sentiment and concerns about data privacy. Regular Forensics, a Latvian company with 30 years of experience, has integrated its facial recognition technology into the eFaas framework, with all personal data now managed entirely within the Maldivian government’s infrastructure. The eFaas platform, which simplifies access to government services through secure digital identity verification, currently offers the facial recognition feature via web browsers only.

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December 2 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala