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:
Austria’s Engineering Costs Soar as Country Adapts to Latest EES Delay
With the European Union’s biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) now delayed to 2025, Austria has had to modify its implementation strategy and increase its budget for border control upgrades. Austria’s Federal Ministry of the Interior has amended a contract with secunet Security Networks AG, allocating over €22 million for additional self-registration kiosks, mobile systems, cameras, and software. Originally requiring 2,000 hours of change-request work, the contract now includes 22,492 hours to address interoperability challenges with systems like ETIAS, regulatory updates, and technical refinements. These adjustments include secondary inspection features and hypercare services post-launch. Austria cites vendor lock-in as a factor, as secunet’s proprietary software limits alternative contractors.
Australia Rebrands National Digital ID System, Expands Biometric Authentication Framework
Australia is progressing its national digital identity system with the rebranded myID platform, offering multi-factor biometric authentication and document verification. MyID supports tiered identity verification, with the Strong level using iProov’s Genuine Presence Assurance for facial liveness detection. The system integrates biometric binding and cryptographic protocols to ensure secure, unique identity verification for accessing government services. For businesses, identity governance is linked to the Australian Business Number system, enabling agent authorization while adhering to standards from the Document Verification and Face Verification Services. The framework extends to initiatives like Genomics Australia and aged care, incorporating specialized protocols for cultural and health data considerations. Ongoing consultations with stakeholders are meant to ensure compatibility and security across sectors.
Apple Patents ‘Bodyprint’ Security Camera System with Multi-Modal Biometric Authentication
Apple has patented a security camera system that incorporates “bodyprint” recognition technology, expanding biometric authentication beyond facial recognition. Using deep learning algorithms, the system analyzes physical attributes such as body shape, proportions, and clothing patterns to create unique identifiers. Integrated with Face ID, it forms a multi-modal authentication solution capable of maintaining accuracy under challenging conditions, such as partially obscured faces or poor viewing angles. The system employs safeguards against spoofing and adapts over time through continuous learning, aligning with standards like ISO/IEC 30107 for biometric security and presentation attack detection.
TSA Brings Facial Recognition to Portland Airport
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has deployed a photo matching identity verification system at Portland International Airport (PDX) using its Credential Authentication Technology (CAT-2). The system performs real-time one-to-one biometric matching by capturing a live facial image and comparing it to the photo on the traveler’s ID document. It combines optical character recognition for document scanning with facial recognition algorithms to enhance processing efficiency at security checkpoints. Privacy measures include encrypted, temporary storage of biometric data during the verification process. This deployment is part of TSA’s broader initiative to modernize airport security with biometric systems, though full nationwide implementation may face delays due to funding constraints.
Worldcoin Brings Iris-Based Digital ID Verification to Panama Amid Token Price Drop
Worldcoin has launched its World ID biometric identity verification system in Panama, expanding its decentralized digital identity platform in Latin America. World ID uses iris scanning and zero-knowledge proof cryptography to create unique digital identities while protecting user privacy. Verification is conducted at centers equipped with the Orb device, which captures iris data and converts it into encrypted identifiers. Enhanced security measures include facial recognition to prevent fraud. This launch reflects Worldcoin’s focus on identity verification for applications such as financial services and government interactions, despite recent regulatory challenges and a cryptocurrency market dip.
Veridas Launches Identity Verification Platform on Google Cloud Marketplace
Veridas has launched its Identity Verification (IDV) platform on Google Cloud Marketplace, offering facial biometrics, document verification, and voice recognition technologies to combat advanced fraud threats like deepfakes and synthetic identities. The platform, independently tested by organizations like NIST, complies with standards such as eIDAS and ETSI and has processed over 100 million verifications for clients including BBVA and Deutsche Telekom. Leveraging Google Cloud’s SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified infrastructure, the platform ensures compliance with regional data protection regulations like GDPR.
Keyless Helps WithLess Move Beyond MFA
Keyless Technologies has partnered with WithLess to implement privacy-preserving biometric authentication for compliance with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements under PSD2. WithLess, operating in Italy and the UK, replaced SMS-based multi-factor authentication with Keyless’ facial recognition technology to address vulnerabilities like phishing and SIM swapping. Keyless’ zero-knowledge biometric architecture ensures no sensitive data is stored, using a distributed system to encrypt biometric templates. The integration, completed in under two weeks, links transaction details to biometric verification for enhanced security.
Dock and Youverse Team Up on Decentralized Biometric Verification
Dock has partnered with Youverse to integrate verifiable credential capabilities with decentralized biometric authentication technology. Youverse’s system uses multi-party computation (MPC) to distribute biometric data securely, reconstructing it only on user devices and eliminating centralized data storage. This integration allows Dock to provide secure and private authentication within closed ecosystems by binding verifiable credentials to users’ biometrics while ensuring privacy. The collaboration addresses concerns about storing sensitive biometric data and supports Dock’s efforts to expand its role in financial services and fintech by offering robust digital identity verification solutions.
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November 27 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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