Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
Niobium Raises $5.5M to Advance Biometric Data Security with FHE Chip
Niobium, a company specializing in Zero Trust Computing, has secured $5.5 million in seed funding to further develop its fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) accelerator chip. The chip allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without decrypting it, offering enhanced privacy and security for sensitive biometric data. The new funding will be used to explore commercial applications of FHE acceleration in various industries, including healthcare, finance, and blockchain. Niobium will launch its Early Access Program in late Q2 2024 for interested companies.
Money Carer Launches Biometric Payment Card to Improve Financial Accessibility for Vulnerable Individuals
Money Carer, a UK-based social enterprise, has partnered with Tag Systems and Fingerprint Cards to launch a biometric payment card that uses fingerprint authentication instead of PINs, aiming to improve financial accessibility for vulnerable individuals, particularly those with memory or visual impairments.
RecFaces Teams With Indian Shopping Mall Lobby to Promote Retail Biometrics
RecFaces, a facial biometric software provider, is partnering with the Shopping Centre Association of India (SCAI) to host a virtual discussion on May 22, 2024, exploring the use of facial recognition technology in the retail sector. The event will focus on the benefits of facial biometrics, including increased security and improved customer experience.
Irish Human Rights Body Weighs in on Police FRT Bill
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has expressed concerns about proposed legislation allowing the Irish police to use facial recognition technology for retrospective searches of CCTV footage. The IHREC is calling for stronger safeguards to be included in the legislation to protect human rights and equality standards.
FAA Reauthorization Bill Passes Without FRT Amendment
The U.S. Senate passed a bill reauthorizing funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, but it did not include an amendment that would have paused the expansion of facial recognition technology at airports. Despite privacy concerns, the TSA and other groups opposed the amendment, arguing that it would hinder technological progress in security and convenience.
Stanford Researchers Use Waveguide Tech for Next-Gen AR
Stanford researchers have developed a new augmented reality (AR) headset that uses waveguide technology and holographic displays to project full-color 3D images directly into the user’s eyes. The innovation could potentially impact various industries and, in the future, could be integrated with digital identity systems for enhanced security, personalization, and social interactions.
Australian Gov’t Allocates AUD $288M to Digital ID Project
The Australian government is investing AUD $288 million to establish a national digital ID system, allowing citizens to securely access and share credentials like Medicare cards and driver’s licenses through their mobile phones. The initiative aims to reduce oversharing of personal information and enhance online identification security.
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May 14, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
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