ID Tech Digest – November 1, 2024

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:

Texas Law Shields Tinder and OKCupid from Biometric Privacy Suit

A federal judge in Dallas has dismissed a biometric privacy lawsuit against Match Group, the parent of Tinder and OKCupid, over alleged violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The plaintiffs claimed that Match Group’s photo verification process, which involves a video “liveness check” for identity verification, collected biometric data without obtaining proper consent as required under BIPA. However, U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey ruled that Texas law governs the case based on the apps’ terms of service, effectively shielding Match Group from liability, as Texas lacks BIPA-like protections. Match Group argues that its biometric practices enhance user safety, though privacy advocates call for clearer consent and data handling transparency.

Ireland Partners with ID-Pal on Digital IDV for Immigration Renewals

The Irish Department of Justice has partnered with ID-Pal to introduce an AI-driven digital identity verification system for nationwide immigration renewals, accessible through the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) portal starting November 4, 2024. The system replaces in-person renewals at Garda Stations, expanding digital accessibility beyond major cities to all regions of Ireland. ID-Pal’s SaaS platform processes over 7,000 identity documents and connects to 200 verified address sources globally, ensuring compliance with AML, KYC, and GDPR standards. The platform uses mobile technology for real-time document validation, facial matching, and address verification, enhancing security and efficiency. Supported by a €25 million allocation in Budget 2025, this initiative aligns with Ireland’s broader digital transformation, reducing manual processing and improving response times while addressing identity fraud risks.

ŌURA Aims to Extend Enterprise Reach with Sparta Science Acquisition

ŌURA has acquired Sparta Science to strengthen its enterprise health platform, Oura Teams, by integrating Sparta Science’s Trinsic platform with Oura Ring’s biometric tracking. This acquisition extends ŌURA’s capabilities into healthcare, government, and enterprise sectors, building on partnerships like its collaboration with the Department of Defense for personnel health monitoring. The integration enables continuous biometric data collection with enhanced performance analytics, while Trinsic’s EMR and AMS integration facilitates customized data workflows and analytics dashboards. Compliance with HIPAA and other security standards remains a priority, supporting ŌURA’s growth in organizational health solutions. Sparta Science’s force plate technology will continue to support military and athletic organizations, and key Sparta Science staff will join ŌURA to aid platform development.

Nigeria Immigration Service Launches Remote Passport Renewal System

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is introducing a contactless passport renewal system, beginning with Nigerians in Canada on November 1, 2024. This system leverages biometric verification, including facial recognition and document authentication, allowing applicants to renew passports remotely via the NIS mobile app without visiting NIS centers. Using existing biometric data from Nigeria’s National Identity Number (NIN) infrastructure, the system cross-references stored data with new facial scans to confirm identity. The rollout will extend to the UK, US, and Italy on November 15 and become globally accessible by December 1. The app includes advanced security features like liveness detection and encrypted data transmission, aligning with Nigeria’s digital transformation goals to modernize and secure government services for citizens at home and abroad.

Pakistan Mandates Biometric Screening at Airports

The Pakistani government has mandated biometric screening for all international travelers at major airports, directing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to implement systems for facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and iris verification. This initiative aims to enhance border security and align with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, allowing immigration officials to cross-reference passenger biometrics with national and global security databases in real time. Major airports, including Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, will see new hardware installations and personnel training to integrate these biometric checks with existing passport verification processes. The system includes advanced security features like liveness detection and anti-spoofing, with fingerprint scanners meeting FBI IAFIS standards and high-resolution facial recognition cameras adaptable to various lighting conditions. Initial testing will commence at Islamabad International Airport before expanding to other locations, marking a substantial upgrade in Pakistan’s border security efforts.

Mango Animate Launches Free Real-time Face Swap Tool for Photos and Videos

Mango Animate has launched Mango AI, a free online platform for real-time face-swapping in photos and videos using facial recognition technology. The tool uses biometric face algorithms to identify key facial features, ensuring natural expressions and movements during swaps between source and target images or videos. Accessible via a browser-based interface, users can upload content and preview swaps in real-time. While Mango AI is marketed for entertainment and social media use, the technology adds to ongoing discussions around privacy and consent, as face-manipulation applications face increasing scrutiny.

New App Combines Smart Glasses, AI, and Facial Recognition to Access Personal Data in Real-Time

A team in South Bend, Indiana, has developed an app integrating Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, ChatGPT, and facial recognition to provide real-time information on strangers by analyzing facial data. The app, led by entrepreneur Kris Peterson, uses the glasses’ cameras to capture and match individuals’ faces with personal information, including names, social connections, and past events. While demonstrating the technology, Peterson highlighted its potential to act as a “personal assistant” by delivering instant insights, though he acknowledged ethical concerns about data accessibility. Indiana’s lack of specific regulations on private use of facial recognition intensifies privacy concerns, with the app’s development raising ethical questions similar to those in recent legislative discussions on biometric technology.

Georgia Opens Samsung Wallet to mDLs

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) has expanded its Digital Driver’s License and ID Program, allowing residents with Samsung Galaxy devices to store their driver’s licenses or state IDs in Samsung Wallet. Leveraging Samsung’s Knox security platform, the integration offers hardware-level protection and allows for secure access via biometric authentication or PIN. This program aligns with DDS’s digital transformation efforts and complies with federal identity verification standards. The mobile IDs are currently accepted at select TSA PreCheck checkpoints, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with TSA affirming support for mobile IDs past the 2025 REAL ID enforcement date.

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November 1, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala