ID Tech Digest – January 20, 2025

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:

IDnow Joins €8M EU Project ACHILLES to Develop Ethical AI for Identity Verification

IDnow has joined the €8 million EU-funded ACHILLES project, running from 2024 to 2028 under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, to advance ethical and transparent AI development. The initiative focuses on areas such as healthcare, identity verification, and content creation, with technical goals including privacy protection, energy-efficient AI operations, and ethical system design. IDnow will contribute by developing synthetic data and optimizing annotation processes to enhance algorithm performance while reducing reliance on real data. ACHILLES will define use cases and begin technical development in 2024-2025, with results expected by 2026.

UK to Launch Digital Driving Licenses This Year

The United Kingdom plans to introduce digital driving licenses in 2025 as part of its GOV.UK One Login initiative, which integrates 50 government services. Accessible through a dedicated government application, the digital licenses will use biometric authentication and multi-factor verification for security, following the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework. Physical licenses will remain available, and participation will be voluntary. The application will allow users to share specific details, such as age verification, without disclosing full license information, aligning with privacy-preserving principles. The digital licenses will integrate with other services, including tax payments and identity verification for domestic flights, reflecting the UK’s broader digital transformation efforts.

Metropolis Acquires AI Vision Firm Oosto in $125M Deal

Metropolis is acquiring computer vision company Oosto for $125 million. Oosto, formerly AnyVision, has faced challenges in monetizing its biometric security and computer vision solutions, despite raising $235 million in a 2021 funding round led by SoftBank and Eldridge. The company has undergone layoffs, rebranding, and a strategic shift toward broader applications, including organizational safety and customer experience solutions. Its technology has been deployed in sectors such as luxury casinos and port logistics. For Metropolis, which recently acquired SP Plus for $1.5 billion, this acquisition aims to integrate Oosto’s computer vision capabilities into its parking automation platform.

British Columbia Court Upholds Ban on Clearview AI’s Facial Data Collection

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has upheld restrictions on Clearview AI, banning the collection and sale of facial biometric data without consent in the province. The court ruled that Clearview AI’s practices violated British Columbia’s data privacy laws, reinforcing prior Canadian regulatory decisions equating the company’s methods to mass surveillance. The decision aligns with growing scrutiny of facial recognition technologies, as civil society organizations advocate for stricter oversight and clear regulations. Access Now has emphasized the need for legal frameworks governing facial image collection, particularly to address concerns about non-targeted scraping.

Texas Court Allows Google to Depose State Officials in Biometric Privacy Lawsuit

The Texas Court of Appeals has permitted Google to depose state officials in a privacy lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, overturning a prior ruling that blocked the depositions. The 2022 lawsuit accuses Google of violating the Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act (CUBI) by collecting biometric data, including facial and fingerprint information, without consent. This ruling marks the first time a Texas appellate court has allowed the state to be deposed in such a case, potentially broadening discovery scope in similar lawsuits. Texas officials opposed the depositions, calling them burdensome and unnecessary. Google argues that its features, like face grouping in Google Photos, are user-controlled and not used for advertising.

FTC Proposes Order to Stop GM from Sharing Driver Behavior Data

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a consent order restricting General Motors and its OnStar subsidiary from sharing drivers’ geolocation and behavioral data with consumer reporting agencies for five years. This action addresses allegations that GM and OnStar failed to disclose their data collection and sharing practices, particularly for the OnStar Smart Driver program. The FTC found that some consumers were enrolled without explicit consent, with data collected as frequently as every three seconds. The proposed order requires GM and OnStar to obtain affirmative consent, allow data access and deletion, and provide opt-out options for tracking. This represents the FTC’s first major regulatory action concerning connected vehicle data practices, setting a precedent as automakers develop biometric and data collection systems for safety and marketing purposes.

Guyana Elections Commission Rules Out Biometric Voting System for 2025 Elections

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has ruled out implementing a biometric voter identification system for the 2025 general and regional elections, citing feasibility concerns and constitutional limitations. GECOM Chairman, retired Justice Claudette Singh, stated that requiring biometrics as the sole means of voter identification would impose unconstitutional burdens on voters. The estimated $20 million cost and tight timeline, with elections anticipated in late 2025, were also significant factors. While current law permits electronic fingerprint capture for registration and voting, introducing biometrics as a supplementary tool would require legislative changes, extensive stakeholder consultations, equipment procurement, and training. Justice Singh suggested gradual implementation may be explored for future elections.

Thailand Mandates Biometric Authentication for SIM Cards to Combat Fraud

Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is introducing biometric authentication for SIM card registration to combat unauthorized SIM usage and online scams. The measures include mandatory passport verification for registration, limits on SIM card registrations for foreign workers, and restrictions on internet-enabled SIM cards for financial transactions. Investigations revealed widespread fraud involving SIM boxes and cards registered with falsified documents or misappropriated photos. The NBTC is also implementing a “Set Zero” policy, requiring SMS re-registration and URL approval, and a new Caller ID system linked to the Royal Thai Police database to deter scams.

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January 20, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala