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:
White House Executive Order Calls for Digital ID and Mobile Driver’s License Adoption
The White House has issued an executive order promoting digital ID adoption, including mobile driver’s licenses, to combat cybercrime and identity fraud. Section 5 encourages federal agencies to support states in developing mobile driver’s licenses using grant funding, emphasizing privacy, interoperability, and data minimization. The order directs federal agencies to consider accepting digital identity documents for verifying eligibility in public programs while protecting against surveillance and ensuring accessibility. NIST must issue implementation guidance within 270 days to support secure digital ID use. Privacy-preserving “Yes/No” validation services are highlighted as a means to verify identity without sharing personal records, enhancing security and fraud prevention.
UK Mandates Age Verification for Porn Sites by 2025
The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, has mandated that websites hosting pornographic content implement strict age verification measures for UK users by July under the Online Safety Act. These requirements include methods such as photo ID matching, facial age estimation, open banking, credit card verification, and digital identity services, aiming to eliminate reliance on self-declared age verification. Immediate compliance is required for platforms publishing explicit or AI-generated content. Early data from similar measures in Louisiana showed reduced traffic to major sites but raised concerns about users migrating to less-regulated platforms. Privacy advocates, including Big Brother Watch, warn of risks like data breaches, privacy intrusion, and digital exclusion associated with such technologies.
Civil Rights Groups Urge EU to Prioritize Human Rights in AI Act Implementation Guidelines
A coalition of over two dozen civil society organizations, including Amnesty International and Privacy International, has urged the European Union to prioritize human rights in the implementation guidelines for the AI Act. The guidelines, to be issued by the AI Office, will interpret the Act’s scope and prohibitions on practices like remote biometric identification, social scoring, predictive policing, and emotion recognition. The coalition calls for broader definitions to include simpler AI systems, prevent technical loopholes, and ensure alignment with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. They emphasize enforcement of restrictions on biometric categorization and highlight concerns about retrospective biometric identification. The coalition also advocates for more transparent and inclusive consultation processes, citing the need for diverse civil society perspectives in shaping AI regulations.
Nigeria Launches Digital Biometric Registry to Verify Farmers Using National ID System
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is developing a digital farmers’ register using biometric data linked to National Identity Numbers (NIN). The system, piloting with two million farmers over three months, will capture biometric information and farmland details, including geolocation and crop types, to verify legitimate farmers and streamline agricultural interventions. Leveraging NIMC’s infrastructure, the initiative aims to eliminate fraudulent claims by “portfolio farmers” and improve resource allocation for government programs.
FaceEsign Launches Multi-Layered Biometric Security System to Combat Digital Fraud
FaceEsign has introduced a multi-layered biometric verification system combining facial, voice, and live video authentication to combat digital fraud. The patented platform integrates these methods into a video chat-like interface to detect synthetic identities, document tampering, account hijacking, and real-time transaction fraud. The system is now available for small businesses, financial institutions, government agencies, and other organizations. Applications include securing banking transactions, preventing fraud in government programs, and offering e-signing solutions.
South Korea’s KFTC Teams with Connect Inc. on Distributed Biometric Authentication System
The Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute (KFTC) has partnered with Connect Inc. to implement a distributed biometric information management system, expanding biometric authentication beyond financial services. The system divides and stores biometric data across the KFTC and financial institutions, enhancing security through a distributed approach aligned with self-sovereign identity principles. Initial plans include deploying palm vein-based customer verification and payment systems, building on successful implementations like Korean Air’s biometric boarding system. The KFTC intends to extend these services to national-level applications, including age verification and broader identification systems.
SITA Partners with Palo Alto Networks to Boost Airport Cybersecurity
SITA and Palo Alto Networks have partnered to enhance cybersecurity for airport applications and transportation systems through the new SITA Managed Security Service Edge (SSE). The solution integrates Palo Alto Networks’ AI-powered platforms, including Next Generation Firewalls and Prisma Access, into SITA’s cybersecurity portfolio. It protects key assets such as check-in workstations, self-service kiosks, and baggage scanning equipment while providing secure web gateways, intrusion detection, DNS protection, and data loss prevention. Managed under SITA’s CyberSOC, the system complies with NIST and ISO 27000 standards, addressing the aviation industry’s growing need for secure digital infrastructure.
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January 16, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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