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:
FBI Seeks Info from Vendors for Somalia ABIS
The FBI has issued a Request for Information (RFI) inviting vendors to support Somalia’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Hosted at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, the ABIS system is integral to identifying individuals involved in criminal and terrorist activities, with storage capacities for 2,000,000 ten-print records and 50,000 latent records. Vendors are required to maintain software and hardware, provide technical support, train Somali Police Force personnel, and develop automated data-sharing pathways. Submissions are due by January 24, 2025. The project, a collaboration between the FBI and the Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, reflects the U.S. counterterrorism strategy to strengthen Somalia’s law enforcement infrastructure and disrupt terrorist networks like Al-Shabaab.
Xiaomi Launches Smart Safe Box with Precise Biometrics Tech
Xiaomi has launched the Mijia Smart Safe Box 30cm, incorporating Precise Biometrics’ BioMatch Embedded algorithm for fingerprint authentication. The system achieves 99.2 percent recognition accuracy with sub-0.5-second unlocking speeds, offering a secure and efficient access solution. This safe complements Xiaomi’s broader smart home ecosystem, which includes security cameras and smart locks, reflecting a trend toward integrating biometric technology in consumer security products. The product continues the companies’ partnership, previously seen in Xiaomi’s smartphones and smart door locks, to meet growing demand for advanced home security solutions.
Innovatrics Tops NIST Latent Fingerprint Testing with 98.2 Percent Accuracy Rate
Innovatrics achieved top rankings in the December 2024 NIST Evaluation of Latent Fingerprint Technologies (ELFT), demonstrating a 98.2 percent Rank-1 hit rate on the FBI’s Solved Dataset #1. The system also excelled in “rank-based search” and “search with threshold” categories on the U.S. Department of Defense Dataset #1, highlighting its ability to balance False Negative Identification Rate and False Positive Identification Rate effectively. A Rank-100 Hit Rate of 94.8 percent at a 10 percent FPIR further showcased its operational efficiency.
ID.me Strengthens Board with Tech Veterans from GitLab and Sysdig
ID.me has appointed Brian Robins, CFO of GitLab Inc., and Bill Welch, CEO of Sysdig, to its Board of Directors, strengthening its leadership with expertise in technology and cybersecurity. Robins, with over 25 years in high-growth software firms and IPO experience, will chair the Board Audit Committee. Welch, known for his work with Zscaler, Duo Security, and Symantec, will chair the Board Compensation Committee and join the Audit Committee. Their appointments coincide with ID.me’s significant revenue growth of over 370 percent from 2020 to 2023 and its $1.8 billion valuation. The company’s digital identity verification services are widely adopted by federal agencies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration, and continue to expand into private sectors.
RaonSecure to Power Simplified Authentication for South Korea’s National Tax Service
RaonSecure will enable simplified authentication for South Korea’s National Tax Service Home Tax system, starting January 15, 2025, through its “OmniOne CX” platform. The system allows users to access year-end tax settlement services using private authentication certificates from providers like Naver, KakaoTalk, Pass, Toss, and major banks. This development follows the revised Electronic Signature Act, which opened the market to private authentication services. RaonSecure’s blockchain-based digital ID platform supports various verification methods, including mobile IDs, driver’s licenses, and veterans’ certificates, aligning with South Korea’s ongoing digital identity modernization. The platform also integrates with mobile resident registration cards, set for nationwide rollout in February 2025.
South Korea Launches Digital Residence Cards for Foreign Residents
South Korea has launched a digital residence card system for foreign residents, enhancing its digital identity modernization efforts. The system, available to foreign nationals aged 14 and above, allows digital residence card applications via the “mobile id-card app” for iOS and Android. For physical cards issued before 2025, users must visit immigration offices to scan QR codes for digital issuance. Cards issued from January 1, 2025, enable direct smartphone scanning via integrated circuit chips, eliminating the need for office visits. Incorporating blockchain and encryption technologies, the cards link to a single smartphone and are automatically secured if the device is reported lost.
Australian Open Expands Use Facial Recognition Entry System
The 2025 Australian Open has expanded its facial recognition technology following a limited trial in 2024, integrating the system across broader entry points. Developed by Wicket in partnership with Ticketmaster, the technology enables attendees to link a selfie to their Ticketmaster account for face-scanning entry, replacing traditional ticket presentation. This system converts facial data into mathematical representations, ensuring local matching at entry devices for enhanced security. Data storage is managed securely by Tennis Australia, with strict duration controls. The rollout reflects broader adoption trends, with Wicket’s technology previously deployed in NFL stadiums, including the Cleveland Browns, where it significantly reduced entry times.
Zwipe Teams with Florida-based ReddWare on Biometric Access Control
ReddWare Inc. and Zwipe have partnered to introduce Zwipe’s biometric smart card technology to ReddWare’s Enterprise Systems Integrators customer base, focusing on biometric access control solutions. Zwipe’s Access smart cards store encrypted fingerprint templates directly on the card chip, ensuring secure authentication without transmitting biometric data externally. Zwipe’s biometric access cards have already seen success in global pilots, including deployments with logistics firms in France and luxury fashion brands. ReddWare will provide deployment engineering services to support the rollout of Zwipe’s solutions in the U.S.
Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to State Online Age Verification Laws
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on January 15, 2025, regarding Texas’ age verification law for adult websites, a case that could significantly impact digital identity verification and online access regulations. Enacted in 2023, the Texas law mandates age verification for websites where at least one-third of the content is deemed harmful to minors. Initially struck down by a district court, the law was upheld by the Fifth Circuit, with modifications removing health warning requirements. Similar state laws, such as those in Tennessee, have faced legal challenges, with courts citing First Amendment concerns and questioning the efficacy of age verification technologies.
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January 13, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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