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:
UK Parliament Holds Historic First Debate on Police Use of Live Facial Recognition
The UK Parliament held its first debate on live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Westminster Hall, initiated by MP John Whittingdale, focusing on the deployment of LFR by UK police forces amid growing usage across British law enforcement. With no dedicated legislation for LFR, police currently rely on common law and the outdated Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Findings from the National Physical Laboratory indicated that the Metropolitan and South Wales Police could achieve balanced face-matching accuracy at a 0.6 threshold, noteworthy after South Wales Police faced legal challenges over their use of the technology. Former Policing Minister Chris Philp reported LFR’s role in approximately 200 arrests for serious crimes, asserting it is less likely to lead to inappropriate stops than traditional methods. However, MP Dawn Butler and civil rights groups like Liberty highlighted concerns over potential misidentification and lack of judicial oversight, with Liberty calling for a complete ban on biometric surveillance.
LastPass Rolls Out Passkey Support in Chrome, Offering Passwordless Authentication
LastPass has introduced passkey support for free and premium users, enabling passwordless authentication through public-private key cryptography. Currently in beta and available via Google Chrome on desktop, the passkey feature leverages device-stored private keys protected by biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, to enhance security over traditional passwords. This move aligns LastPass with industry shifts toward passwordless solutions, following similar rollouts by Google and Microsoft. Users can activate the feature by enabling passkeys in the Beta Features section within account settings, completing master password verification, and restarting Chrome. While passkeys are accessible to all LastPass users, free accounts are limited to single-device access, with cross-platform access reserved for premium accounts.
FaceTec to Take Stage as Title Sponsor in Identity Week 2025 Events
FaceTec has been announced as the Title Sponsor for Identity Week Europe 2025 and Identity Week America 2025, emphasizing its growing influence in the identity technology sector. Hosted by Terrapinn Holdings, Identity Week is a major industry conference, resiliently returning to prominence post-COVID-19, with Europe’s 2025 event already 75 percent booked. At Identity Week America, FaceTec showcased its UR code solution—a protocol integrating biometric and identity data into a digitally signed, tamper-proof QR code designed for portable and privacy-preserving identity verification. According to FaceTec SVP Jay Meier, the technology promises low-cost, scalable identity authentication, offering growth potential for multiple companies in the field.
GOV.UK One Login Reaches 50-Service Integration Milestone, Targets 100 Services by 2025
The UK’s GOV.UK One Login system has successfully integrated with 50 government services, including the Department for Education’s ‘Confirm My Apprenticeship,’ marking a major step in the Government Digital Service’s initiative for streamlined digital access. This platform enables users to access multiple services with a single login, reducing the need for separate credentials and saving approximately six minutes per access after initial identity verification. By 2025, the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) aims to integrate 100 services. Minister for AI and Digital Government Feryal Clark highlighted the system’s role in improving accessibility and efficiency across public services. This consolidation is expected to save hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds, with security features in place to prevent identity fraud. Currently focused on government use, the Open Identity Exchange advises against extending GOV.UK One Login to the private sector, promoting the independent development of private digital ID solutions.
Mastercard to Replace Passwords with Biometric Authentication by 2030
Mastercard has announced its vision to eliminate manual card entry and passwords for online shopping by 2030, aiming to replace them with biometric authentication methods, including fingerprint and facial recognition. This shift will leverage tokenization, where sensitive card details are replaced with unique tokens, improving security and user experience in digital transactions. Early implementation of these methods has reportedly increased transaction approval rates by 3-6 percentage points, generating up to $2 billion in additional monthly global sales for merchants. Mastercard’s initiative addresses heightened e-commerce fraud, which occurs at seven times the rate of in-store fraud, and aims to reduce cart abandonment, currently affecting 25 percent of online transactions. The company is collaborating with global partners like the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Just Eat Takeaway.com, and Adyen to expand these changes worldwide.
iDenfy Launches Automated KYB Solution for Sole Proprietors
Lithuania-based RegTech firm iDenfy has launched an automated KYB solution tailored for sole proprietors, expanding its Know Your Business (KYB) platform with a focus on small business compliance. The solution offers a customizable onboarding workflow to meet specific client needs, using automated document verification and customizable questionnaires to streamline compliance processes. CEO Domantas Ciulde highlights the efficiency benefits, estimating a 30 percent reduction in manual assessment time. Security features include credit analysis, AML screening, sanctions checks, adverse media detection, and proxy IP screening, helping businesses manage risk and compliance. Established in 2016, iDenfy has grown into a global RegTech provider, serving over 200 countries and building partnerships within the cryptocurrency sector.
DTIS Appoints Former Homeland Security Executive Maurine Fanguy as New CEO
Digital Trusted Identity Services (DTIS), a joint venture between HireRight and the American Association of Airport Executives, has appointed Maurine Fanguy as its new CEO. With over 20 years in security and biometrics, including executive roles at Accenture Federal Services and Idemia, Fanguy brings extensive experience in identity verification and regulatory compliance, particularly in the aviation sector. Her leadership will support DTIS’s growth in biometric and biographical data processing, especially as it expands its fingerprint processing capabilities within regulated industries. DTIS plays a key role in U.S. aviation security, processing background checks for over 300 airports and 75 airlines through the Transportation Security Clearinghouse, and providing essential fingerprinting and criminal history checks as part of the TSA’s Direct Aviation Channeling program.
New Partnership to Bring World ID to Crypto Gaming Platform
Tools for Humanity, a key partner in the World Network co-founded by Alex Blania and Sam Altman, has teamed up with TOKYO BEAST FZCO to bring World ID’s digital proof-of-human technology to TOKYO BEAST’s crypto-entertainment gaming platform. This integration allows players to verify their unique human identity via biometric methods such as iris scanning and facial recognition, ensuring privacy while deterring in-game bots and fraud. World ID verification will offer players exclusive perks and rewards on TOKYO BEAST, supported by joint marketing efforts to drive adoption and enhance user engagement.
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November 14, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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