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:
Thailand’s Immigration Biometric System Reaches Capacity, Forcing Manual Processing of Foreign Arrivals
Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has reached the 50-million record limit of its biometric identification system, forcing officials to manually process millions of foreign arrivals. Police Colonel Neti Khanboon confirmed that approximately 17 million entries over the past two years have been manually documented, including facial photos and fingerprints. The issue coincides with Thailand’s expansion of biometric capabilities at major airports as part of its digital transformation efforts. To address the crisis, officials are using an alternative online database for screening, manually collecting data for repatriated individuals, and allocating 500 million baht for additional storage licenses. The bureau is developing a new biometric system with unlimited capacity, expected to take 29 months and cost 3 billion baht.
Ethiopia Launches First Domestically Produced Electronic Passport with Biometric Features
Ethiopia has launched its first domestically manufactured electronic passport at Kilinto Industrial Park in Addis Ababa. Developed in partnership with Japan’s Toppan Security Company, the e-passport includes an embedded chip storing personal and biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial recognition information. The design incorporates anti-fraud measures and features national landmarks, including Aksum, Gondar, and the Great Wall of Jegol. Local production is expected to reduce foreign currency expenditures and may enable Ethiopia to provide passport manufacturing services to other nations. The Immigration and Citizenship Service is also rolling out a new visa sticker and electronic visa system to address security flaws in manual processing.
Florida Jail Implements Inmate Iris Scanning System
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in Florida has installed the Inmate Recognition and Identification System (I.R.I.S.) at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. The system uses iris biometrics to create highly accurate identification profiles, analyzing more than 265 unique eye characteristics. I.R.I.S. is more precise than fingerprinting, facial recognition, and palm scanning, effectively distinguishing between individuals with similar appearances, including identical twins. Sheriff Rick Staly described the technology as the “new fingerprint technology,” emphasizing its role in preventing misidentification and ensuring accurate inmate records. The system was provided through a partnership between the National Sheriffs’ Association and BI2 Technologies at no cost to taxpayers.
Amazon Settles NBA 2K Facial Scan Privacy Lawsuit Over Biometric Data Collection
Amazon has settled a class action lawsuit over alleged biometric privacy violations related to facial scans collected through the NBA 2K video game. The lawsuit, filed in October 2021, accused Amazon Web Services (AWS) of collecting and sharing players’ facial feature data without proper consent, violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Plaintiff Ann Mayhall brought the case on behalf of her minor child, arguing that AWS stored and transmitted facial data from NBA 2K’s in-game character customization feature. A federal magistrate judge recommended against dismissing the case, stating that Amazon had taken possession of and transmitted the biometric data. Amazon denied wrongdoing, claiming it was a passive cloud services provider protected under the U.S. Communications Decency Act. Though terms remain confidential, the settlement adds to ongoing legal debates over biometric privacy in gaming and entertainment.
St. Petersburg to Deploy Ethnicity Recognition Software Across Surveillance Network, Drawing Criticism
St. Petersburg officials plan to deploy ethnicity recognition software across 8,000 surveillance cameras to monitor migrants, with the project estimated at 38 million rubles ($430,000). Led by Oleg Kapitanov, head of the city’s Committee on Interethnic Relations, the initiative aims to prevent “ethnic enclaves” and mitigate social tensions. The announcement follows increased xenophobic sentiment in Russia after the 2024 Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, which was linked to Tajikistani nationals. The proposal has sparked criticism, with Valery Fadeev, chairman of Russia’s Presidential Human Rights Council, calling it degrading and questioning its legality. Other officials, including Konstantin Zatulin of the State Duma, doubt the technology’s effectiveness.
BigBear.ai and SoftPoint Partner to Integrate Facial Recognition for Retail Payment Security
BigBear.ai has partnered with SoftPoint to integrate its Trueface facial recognition solution into SoftPointPay’s point-of-sale platforms, enhancing payment security and transaction authentication. The rollout will extend across SoftPoint’s network of banks, restaurants, retail stores, convenience stores, and event venues. The partnership follows BigBear.ai’s $70 million acquisition of Pangiam in late 2023, which expanded its computer vision capabilities. The system aims to prevent fraud and identity theft by leveraging biometric identifiers that are difficult to replicate. The deployment aligns with BigBear.ai’s broader work in facial recognition, including its veriScan system used at international airports.
Signzy and ONEngine.ai Partner to Enhance Digital IDV for Businesses
Signzy has partnered with ONEngine.ai to enhance digital identity verification processes using artificial intelligence. The collaboration integrates ONEngine.ai’s AI-driven document analysis and facial recognition with Signzy’s digital onboarding platform to improve verification accuracy, reduce processing times, and strengthen fraud prevention. The system applies AI algorithms to analyze identity documents and perform facial matching, ensuring compliance across jurisdictions. Signzy CEO Ankit Ratan emphasized that the partnership enables faster and more secure customer onboarding, while ONEngine.ai CEO Rahul Chandra highlighted its role in preventing fraud and identity theft.
Verifone and PopID Partner on Biometric Payment Solutions
Verifone and PopID have partnered to expand biometric payments and loyalty solutions in retail and hospitality, enabling consumers to pay and access rewards programs using facial recognition and palm scanning. The collaboration will integrate biometric modules into existing Verifone payment terminals, third-party devices, and Verifone’s new Victa terminal line. Verifone is developing an open biometric payments ecosystem to support interoperability across consumer platforms, digital wallets, merchants, and financial institutions. The technology aims to provide faster transactions, enhanced security, and seamless loyalty program access while adhering to regulatory and industry standards.
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February 21, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
