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:
Europol Report Backs Balanced Approach to AI and Facial Recognition in Policing
A new Europol report highlights the significant potential of artificial intelligence and biometrics, particularly facial recognition, in modern policing while acknowledging the ethical and regulatory challenges they present. The report highlights facial recognition’s key role in identifying individuals, solving cold cases, and connecting suspects to prior crimes, such as identifying offenders in child exploitation cases. However, it also raises concerns about privacy, mass surveillance, and potential biases in the technology, particularly regarding its accuracy across different ethnicities, genders, and age groups. The report calls for adherence to the EU AI Act and advocates for a balanced approach, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and strict oversight, especially in real-time applications of facial recognition.
UK Allocates £4M to eVisa Transition
The UK Home Office is investing £4 million to support its transition to eVisas, distributing funds among four agencies—Migrant Help, Citizens Advice Scotland, the Welsh Refugee Council, and Advice NI. The initiative is part of a larger plan to phase out physical immigration documents by 2025, replacing them with eVisas for nearly all visa holders. The transition, which began in April 2024, aims to enhance the security and efficiency of the UK’s border and immigration system by linking visa holders’ digital records to their biometric data and passports. While physical documents will still be required for international travel until the end of 2024, eVisa holders will subsequently need only their passports, which will be connected to their online immigration status.
British Police Extend FRT Operations Overseas to Nab Football Hooligan
British law enforcement has used facial recognition technology (FRT) in connection with an overseas sports event for the first time to ban a football hooligan. Josh Waugh, who allegedly assaulted another England fan during the Euro 2024 event in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, was identified with the help of a witness’s photo, which was sent to UK police. The UK Football Policing Unit and Cheshire police worked with their German counterparts, using retrospective FRT to confirm Waugh’s identity. A mass messaging app called SOLV also aided the investigation by gathering 54,000 responses to an appeal for witnesses. Despite no action yet from German authorities, a British court issued Waugh a Football Banning Order, one of 11 such bans implemented after the tournament.
Colorado AG Proposes Amendments to Privacy Act, Including Biometric Data Regulations
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office has introduced draft amendments to the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA), focusing on biometric data regulations and children’s privacy protections. The proposed changes, announced on September 13, are set to align with new laws like Senate Bill 41 and House Bill 1130, effective in 2025. Key amendments include mandatory “Biometric Identifier Notices” for businesses collecting biometric data, detailing the type of data collected, retention periods, and potential disclosure to processors. The rules also require explicit consent for selling or sharing biometric data and introduce data protection assessments for minors’ data processing. Businesses can seek regulatory guidance from the Colorado AG’s office for compliance clarity. Public comments are open from September 25, with a rulemaking hearing scheduled for November 7, 2024, and the amendments likely taking effect on July 1, 2025.
Panasonic Enters Biometric Payments Arena with Family Mart’s ‘Face Pass’
Family Mart, a major convenience store chain in Japan, has initiated a pilot program testing Panasonic’s “Face Pass” facial recognition technology at its Yokohama location. The system allows pre-registered customers to access the store and make cashless payments by scanning their faces, eliminating the need for cashier interaction. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by streamlining store operations. The store is outfitted with over 80 cameras and sensors to track customer behavior, monitor inventory, and analyze sales data in real time, enhancing operational efficiency and marketing strategies. Family Mart plans to expand the technology to other stores, reflecting a broader trend of biometric adoption in Japan’s convenience store industry. This follows a similar move by competitor 7-Eleven Japan, which launched a facial recognition payment system in partnership with Veritrans and NEC.
More West Virginia School Districts Trial ROC’s Computer Vision Tech for Campus Safety
ROC Watch, a safety system developed by Rank One Computing, is being rolled out in several West Virginia school districts to bolster security using biometric and identification technologies. The system employs facial recognition, license plate recognition, and suspicious object or weapons detection to identify potential threats. Once a threat is detected, real-time alerts are sent to designated school officials, allowing immediate action. Schools can customize the system’s features based on privacy and budget needs, opting for full implementation or specific functions like weapons detection. ROC Watch is currently being tested in various counties, including Marion County, where it has already identified sex offenders, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving school safety.
North Carolina Judge Upholds Use of Digital IDs for Voter Identification
A North Carolina judge has ruled that students and employees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) can use digital identification cards as valid voter IDs in upcoming elections. Wake Superior Court Judge Keith Gregory denied a request from the Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party, who sought to block the use of these digital IDs, arguing that state law only permits physical forms of ID for voting. The judge stated that state law does not prohibit digital IDs, such as the “Mobile UNC One Card,” which was approved by the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) in a 3-2 vote in August 2024. The lawsuit raised concerns about potential voter fraud and verification issues, but Judge Gregory dismissed these claims, stating that digital IDs help registered voters confirm their identity and that there is no credible evidence linking digital IDs to illegal voting.
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September 24, 2024 — by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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