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:
Swedish Government Seeks Info for New ABIS
Sweden’s Migration Board has issued an RFI seeking industry input on an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to enhance identity verification. The project, valued at 40 million SEK, is in the early planning stages, with vendors invited to submit details on biometric technologies by March 20, 2025. The system would process fingerprints, facial images, and iris scans for immigration and security applications. The RFI signals Sweden’s intent to upgrade its biometric infrastructure, aligning with broader EU trends in digital identity management.
Researchers Propose Enhances ‘Altered Identity’ Detection in FRT
Researchers have enhanced facial recognition accuracy using a modified Tiny YOLOv7 model, improving detection of AI-altered faces. The study introduced the Facial Attribute Manipulation (FAM) Detection Dataset, simulating real-world identity changes like age and hairstyle modifications. By integrating Swin Transformer Blocks and Squeeze-Excite Spatial Pyramid Pooling, the improved FIR-Tiny YOLOv7 model outperformed its predecessor, achieving 30.4 percent higher accuracy in three-shot scenarios. The research highlights the need for robust biometric security against deepfake-driven identity fraud and law enforcement evasion.
UK Land Registry Launches Digital ID Standard for Property Transactions
HM Land Registry (HMLR) is introducing a new digital identity verification standard as part of the UK government’s Data (Use and Access) Bill reforms, aiming to modernize property transactions. The initiative will streamline conveyancing while enhancing security, complementing HMLR’s broader digital efforts, including AI-driven case processing and property data pilots. Challenges remain around cybersecurity and accessibility, but the move is expected to significantly reduce transaction times and costs.
Swedish Digital Mailbox Kivra Acquires ID Firm Truid Ahead of EU Wallet Launch
Kivra has acquired digital identity specialist Truid to strengthen its position ahead of the EU’s digital identity wallet rollout. The acquisition expands Kivra’s identity management capabilities, aligning with its goal of enabling secure information sharing for its 6.5 million users in Sweden and Finland. The move comes as the EU begins large-scale digital identity wallet testing and Finland prepares for new legislation requiring digital communications. Kivra aims to integrate Truid’s expertise to accelerate its role in the evolving European digital identity ecosystem.
Hungary Plans to Use Face Recognition to Enforce Ban on Pride Events
Hungary’s ruling coalition has proposed legislation banning Pride events and authorizing facial recognition to identify attendees of prohibited gatherings. The bill includes fines of up to 200,000 forints ($546) for participants, with penalties funding so-called “child protection” initiatives. The move escalates Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, following Hungary’s 2021 law restricting LGBTQ+ representation. Privacy advocates warn that the surveillance provisions could suppress civil liberties, while EU officials have condemned similar measures as discriminatory and restrictive of fundamental rights.
Trust Swiftly Launches AI Fraud Defense Platform with $100K Bounty Program
Trust Swiftly has launched the Trusted Supervised Remote ID Verification platform to counter AI-driven fraud, offering supervised verification methods for deepfake and synthetic identity detection. The platform supports document verification, biometric checks, and dynamic knowledge-based authentication. To test its security, Trust Swiftly has introduced a $100,000 bounty program, inviting ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities.
India’s Digi Yatra Facial Recognition System Expands to Two More Airports
India’s Digi Yatra facial recognition travel system has expanded to Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru International Airports, bringing all seven Adani Airports Holdings Limited facilities into the network. The biometric platform, launched in December 2022, has surpassed 9 million users, with utilization rates averaging 25 to 30 percent. Passengers use the system by registering via a mobile app and passing through e-gates using facial recognition. The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans further expansions.
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March 17, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy and Alex Perala
