ID Tech Digest – December 6, 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:

European Commission Proposes Six-month Timeline for Phased EES Rollout

The European Commission has announced a phased rollout for the biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) after postponing its full implementation, originally scheduled for November 10th. The EES will collect biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, to record and verify non-EU travelers’ identities. Member states will have six months to gradually implement the system, starting with at least 10 percent of border crossings and increasing to 50 percent within 90 days. Passport stamping will remain mandatory during this period to minimize disruptions. Countries ready for full implementation can apply the system at all crossings immediately, while others may scale up over time. Temporary suspensions are permitted in cases of technical failures, and biometric data collection will be optional for the first 60 days to ease the transition.

Once China’s Facial Recognition Titan, SenseTime Pivots to Generative AI

SenseTime Group has announced a restructuring to focus on generative AI, introducing a “1+X” model. The “1” centers on AI model development, cloud technology, and general vision models, while the “X” consists of independent ventures such as SenseAuto for automotive and SenseRobot for home robotics. The pivot follows a 50.6 percent drop in traditional AI revenue in early 2024 and aims to boost growth and profitability. Investments include the SenseNova large language model and over 10,000 GPUs for development. Generative AI revenue reached 1.051 billion yuan in the first half of 2024, a 255.7 percent year-on-year increase, but the company faces high costs and competition in the AI sector.

Tech Veteran and Former Marine John Bagocius to Lead FaceTec’s Public Sector Partnerships

FaceTec has appointed John Bagocius as Director of Federal Sales, tasking him with advancing the company’s public sector partnerships. Bagocius, a former U.S. Marine, brings decades of experience in biometrics and identity technology. He joins FaceTec after the launch of its UR Code protocol, which encodes biographic and biometric data into scannable QR codes for identity verification. The protocol is vendor-agnostic but aligns with FaceTec’s 3D Liveness and face matching technology, and is being positioned as a global standard for digital identity verification. CEO Kevin Alan Tussy highlighted Bagocius’s role in driving adoption of the UR Code and biometric software by federal and state governments.

New Mexico Brings Digital Driver’s Licenses to Apple and Google Wallets

New Mexico has joined the growing list of states offering digital driver’s licenses and state IDs through Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, providing residents with a more convenient and secure way to verify their identity. Introduced by the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division, the initiative allows users to scan their physical ID, complete a facial scan, and submit an application for verification, enabling digital credentials to be used like payment cards. Similar systems are in place in states like Iowa, where digital IDs are accepted at select TSA checkpoints and businesses.

Cyprus Launches ‘Digital Citizen’ Program with New Digital ID System

Cyprus has launched its “Digital Citizen” program, enabling citizens to store identity cards, driving licenses, and vehicle registration certificates in digital format through the IDMe.cy system. Approved in October 2024, the program will issue 100,000 digital IDs, with the first 30,000 offered free and the rest available for €15. These IDs, valid for three years, support identity verification, authentication, and digital document signing, facilitating access to government and private sector services. Integrated initially with the building permit application process, the system will expand to include taxation, transport, and business registration. The initiative aligns with the EU’s eIDAS 2.0 regulation and has received “high” assurance recognition from the European Commission. The launch, scheduled for December 12, 2024, will also introduce additional digital tools to streamline government services.

AuthSignal Teams with MATTR and Qualcomm on Palm Biometrics IdX Terminal

AuthSignal has partnered with MATTR and Qualcomm Technologies to introduce the Palm Biometrics Identity Experience (IdX) Terminal, combining ISO 18013-5-compliant Mobile Driver’s Licenses (mDL) with palm biometrics for secure identity verification, payments, and access control. The IdX Terminal extends AuthSignal’s passwordless multi-factor authentication solutions to in-person interactions, integrating MATTR’s mDocs Proximity Verifier SDK for mDL verification and Bluetooth for privacy-focused credential checks. Qualcomm provides hardware capabilities for reliable deployment. The terminal securely binds mDLs to palm biometrics, enabling applications such as contactless age verification, facility access, and payment initiation.

Mitek Launches ‘Digital Fraud Defender’ to Combat Deepfakes

Mitek Systems has launched Digital Fraud Defender, a solution leveraging AI algorithms to combat deepfakes, digital injection attacks, and organized fraud. The technology employs Virtual Camera presence detection, resolution monitoring, duplicate frame analysis, and passive liveness detection to identify manipulated content and prevent unauthorized access. It also tracks repeated use of personally identifiable information and matches faces against a fraudster database to counter fraud rings and new AI template attacks.

Foodstuffs’ Use of Facial Recognition Offers Ammo to Both Sides of Debate

Foodstuffs, a supermarket cooperative in Australia and New Zealand, has trialed facial recognition technology in 25 North Island stores, reporting a 16 percent reduction in serious harmful behavior, including assaults and abuse. The six-month trial flagged 1,742 individuals, with staff engaging about half the time, resulting in both deterrent effects and direct prevention of over 100 incidents. Despite these benefits, the trial revealed misidentifications, with nine incorrect alerts and two shoppers wrongly asked to leave, leading to public concerns about fairness and potential biases. One such case, involving a misidentified Rotorua woman pursuing legal action, highlights fears of discrimination, especially for minority groups, as noted by Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster.

Google Wallet Now Supports Digital US Passports for Domestic Air Travel

Google has launched a feature allowing users to add US passports to Google Wallet for domestic air travel identification. The feature, part of the Transportation Security Administration’s digital transformation efforts, creates a digital ID pass through a multi-step verification process involving NFC-based passport chip scanning and a selfie video for biometric validation. This digital passport is accepted at select TSA checkpoints but does not replace physical documents, which remain mandatory for international travel. Currently in beta, the feature supports US passports on Android devices running version 9 or later and will roll out to eligible users in the coming weeks. This development aligns with broader trends in digital identification, complementing existing support for digital driver’s licenses in states like California and Maryland. While digital IDs gain adoption, physical IDs remain critical during the transition to fully digital verification systems.

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December 6, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala