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:
US Coast Guard Seeks Vendors for TWIC Biometric Reader Program
The United States Coast Guard has issued a notice seeking vendors to supply biometric readers and software support services for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The contract, spanning a 12-month base period with optional renewals, involves handheld biometric readers compliant with TSA TWIC Reader Hardware and Card Application Specifications Version 1.1.1. These devices must support all current and future TWIC card versions and meet MIL-STD 810F durability standards. They should also accommodate multiple authentication modes, including Personal Identity Verification (PIV). The contractor will be tasked with technical support, hardware maintenance, software updates, and implementing TSA-mandated changes. Requirements also include updating the Canceled Card List and managing hardware lifecycle considerations. Responses for the Washington, DC-based contract are due by January 28, 2025.
New Jersey Governor Advocates for Mobile Driver’s License Legislation
New Jersey is considering legislation to implement mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs), enabling residents to access their licenses via smartphones. Bills S1297 and A3518, endorsed by Governor Phil Murphy, propose a system with multi-factor authentication and selective disclosure technology to enhance privacy. This would allow users to share only necessary credential details for specific transactions. The initiative aligns with New Jersey’s modernization efforts, led by the Office of Innovation, to streamline state services. At least 15 states and Puerto Rico already offer mDLs, while others are in development. California has integrated mDLs with Apple and Google wallets in partnership with AuthenticID, leveraging biometric identity verification. Standardization under ISO/IEC TS 18013-7:2024 has further facilitated mDL adoption and interoperability.
Identity.com Launches Mobile App for Secure Digital Identity Management
Identity.com has launched a mobile app for digital identity management on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, leveraging verifiable credentials (VCs) and decentralized identifiers (DIDs). The app allows users to store government-issued IDs and other credentials directly on their devices, enabling secure identity verification without centralized databases. Features include age and uniqueness verification to prevent fraud and streamline Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, addressing privacy and compliance challenges. The open-source platform supports selective data sharing, minimizing personal data collection while enhancing trust.
Apple Patent May Signal Breakthrough in Under-display Face ID
Apple has been granted a patent for embedding Face ID technology under iPhone displays, moving closer to a seamless design without notches or bezels. The innovation addresses the challenge of transmitting infrared (IR) light through display layers, a requirement for Face ID’s 3D facial mapping. The patent describes removing specific red, green, or blue subpixels to create IR light pathways, with neighboring subpixels compensating for display quality. Wiring and touch-sensitive mesh modifications further enhance IR transmission. These developments build on Apple’s prior research into HCSEL laser technology.
Tennessee’s Adult Website Age Verification Law Upheld by Federal Appeals Court
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reinstated Tennessee’s Protect Tennessee Minors Act, requiring adult websites with 33 percent or more content deemed harmful to minors to verify users’ ages every 60 minutes. The law mandates the use of state IDs or similar methods for age verification and requires websites to anonymize and retain user data for seven years, raising privacy and security concerns. Violations carry felony penalties, making it among the strictest of similar laws enacted in 19 states. The appeals court ruled the law does not clearly infringe on First Amendment rights and highlighted competing public interests. Tennessee joins a broader trend of expanding digital age verification laws, echoing measures in jurisdictions like France.
Intel to Spin Off RealSense Computer Vision Division
Intel plans to spin off its RealSense depth camera business into a standalone company in the first half of 2025. The division, known for its AI-driven computer vision devices, including depth cameras and biometric tools, gained recognition in biometrics with the 2021 launch of RealSense ID, a facial recognition module processing data on-device to enhance security and privacy. The technology has also been integrated into robotics, such as ANYbotics’ quadruped robots, to enable autonomous navigation. The new company will focus on stereo vision, robotics, and AI hardware and software. It will be led by Nadav Orbach as CEO and Mark Yahiro as head of business development.
Accu-Time Systems Launches Palm Vein Scanning Time Clock
Accu-Time Systems has launched the stride80 time clock featuring Only|You Palm vein scan technology for biometric employee authentication. The device uses palm vein patterns to verify identities, eliminating traditional methods such as timecards and PINs. The stride80 integrates with existing workforce management platforms and includes the IDassist on-board user guide for ease of use. The system enhances workforce management by preventing unauthorized time entries and simplifying payroll processes. Accu-Time Systems, acquired by Amano Corporation in 2010, specializes in workforce management solutions, including the PeoplePoint terminals and TimeCollect software.
AI and Facial Recognition to Manage 400M Pilgrims at India’s 2025 Mahakumbh Festival
The 2025 Mahakumbh religious gathering in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, will implement artificial intelligence and facial recognition systems to manage 400 million expected pilgrims and aid in locating missing persons. The system includes over 2,750 AI-enhanced CCTV cameras for real-time crowd monitoring, connected to an Integrated Command and Control Centre. Strategically placed face-level cameras will help prevent stampedes by identifying crowd build-ups and enable searches for missing individuals using AI-generated digital images. QR codes, a mobile app with live location sharing, and RFID wristbands containing emergency and medical data will enhance safety and efficiency.
India Mandates Aadhaar Biometric Verification for New Mobile SIM Cards
India has mandated Aadhaar-based biometric verification for all new mobile SIM card connections to enhance telecom security and reduce fraud. Biometric data collected during registration is immediately encrypted, adhering to UIDAI’s stringent data protection standards, and retailers must comply with the Aadhaar-linked process or face penalties, including license revocation. The initiative aims to prevent fraudulent SIM card usage, a key enabler of financial scams and cybercrime, and includes AI-driven analytics tools to detect irregular issuance patterns. The system supports a centralized SIM card database to aid fraud investigations and complements broader efforts to secure India’s digital infrastructure, including Aadhaar’s biometric data locking features and expanded digital KYC processes.
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January 15, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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