ID Tech Digest – October 3, 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:

DoD Awards $96M Contract to Oura

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded a $96 million contract to Finnish wearable developer Oura to supply biometric sensor rings and related services for military personnel. The Oura rings will be used by the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to monitor physiological stress, recovery, resilience, and other health indicators. The contract also includes data analysis, personalized and aggregate wellbeing visualizations, and wellness content delivery, such as mindfulness training and leadership coaching, across over 130 military medical facilities. The contract will run until September 30, 2025.

UK Lender Leverages IDVerse IDV as Legal Expert Reflects on Identity Week America

Hastings Direct Loans, a UK-based lender, has partnered with IDVerse to enhance its identity verification (IDV) process. IDVerse’s technology, known for its high accuracy in reading identity documents, facial recognition, and detecting fraud, has helped Hastings Direct Loans achieve a 4x return on investment by preventing loan fraud shortly after integration. News of the partnership arrives alongside reflections from IDVerse’s Head of Legal, Terry Brenner, on the challenges discussed at Identity Week America, including the growing threat of deepfakes and synthetic IDs. Brenner emphasized the industry’s need for stronger early IDV detection and anticipated effective solutions to emerge within two years. Discussions also centered on digital IDs, with industry leaders noting the potential shift away from traditional physical identification.

Trinsic, Mitek Demo Novel mDL Use Cases in California DMV Hackathon

A recent CA DMV Hackathon showcased the potential of mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) for real-world applications, with Trinsic and Mitek demonstrating their use in car rentals and test drives to streamline digital identity verification. The event drew interest from financial institutions like US Bank and VISA, suggesting strong potential for mDL integration in financial services. Other use cases included migrant worker verification and border crossing, highlighting mDLs’ versatility. Trinsic’s CEO Riley Hughes praised the DMV’s efforts to promote enterprise adoption, emphasizing that broader utility will drive adoption. California’s mDL pilot program, which launched last month, allows residents to store their state ID in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, with robust privacy protections in place, though the IDs are not yet widely recognized by law enforcement or businesses.

Humanity Protocol Testnet Nets 25,000 Registrations in First 24 Hours

Humanity Protocol, a decentralized identity project supported by Polygon Labs and Animoca Brands, recently launched its testnet, attracting 25,000 sign-ups within the first 24 hours. The protocol uses zero-knowledge proofs and non-invasive biometrics, such as palm vein scanning, to provide secure identity verification while avoiding centralized data storage. The testnet is being rolled out in three phases, starting with the reservation of unique Human IDs. Future phases will include palm print and palm vein registration for enhanced security. CEO Terence Kwok noted strong demand for secure and privacy-preserving identity solutions. With a recent valuation of $1 billion and $30 million in seed funding, Humanity Protocol is positioned to compete with Worldcoin, a digital identity platform using iris biometrics.

Badge Brings Post-password Mindset to CyberArk Network

Badge has partnered with CyberArk to enhance identity security through a post-password approach to authentication. Badge’s platform, which eliminates stored credentials like passwords and instead uses authentication factors such as biometrics directly linked to the user, will integrate with CyberArk’s Identity Security Platform. The collaboration aims to provide multi-factor authentication across all channels, with next-generation privacy technology and phishing-resistant authentication for account recovery. The partnership is set to extend this advanced security approach to CyberArk’s extensive network, which includes over 8,000 customers and more than 50 percent of the Fortune 500.

Harvard Students Connect Meta Ray-Bans to PimEyes Face Search, Provoking Privacy Concerns

Harvard students AnhPhu Nguyen and Caine Ardayfio have developed a project called I-XRAY, which combines Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses with the PimEyes facial recognition search engine, raising significant privacy concerns. The system captures images of individuals in public, quickly cross-references them with online databases, and compiles personal information such as names, addresses, and phone numbers. Their demonstration revealed how easily wearable technology and biometric tools can expose private details, potentially enabling malicious activities like deception or stalking. The project aims to highlight privacy risks, and while the students have not released the code, they encourage individuals to opt out of invasive search engines like PimEyes.

FPC’s 4th Generation Iris Tech Offers Low-Res, Low-Cost Performance

Fingerprint Cards (FPC) has launched its fourth-generation iris recognition software platform, designed to provide cost-effective, low-resolution performance with high accuracy. The “just glance” approach enables a large field-of-view and long-distance operation on standard hardware, offering one-in-a-million accuracy with minimal facial visibility. The technology works even when users wear glasses, masks, or makeup and can differentiate between identical twins. Potential applications include enterprise and residential access control, personal computers, automotive systems, time and attendance, and point-of-sale systems.

Mitek Finds New CEO for Next Phase of Growth

Mitek Systems, Inc. has appointed Edward H. West as its new CEO and member of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Scott Carter, previously serving as Interim CEO, will transition to non-executive Chairman of the Board. West previously led Cardtronics plc through significant growth and a successful acquisition by NCR, and brings extensive experience in leadership, fintech partnerships, and digital solutions. He aims to drive innovation and expand Mitek’s market presence. The board sees West as key to guiding Mitek into its next growth phase, following successful acquisitions of biometric identity firms ID R&D and HooYu and product launches like Check Fraud Defender and MiVIP.

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October 3, 2024 — by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala