Identity News Digest – May 22, 2024

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:

IDEMIA Gets World-First ISO Mobile ID Certification

IDEMIA has achieved a world-first certification for its mIDReader and Verify SDK under the ISO 18013-5: Mobile Driving License (mDL) application standard, awarded by UL Solutions. The standard outlines the data structure, security, interoperability, and privacy features for mobile driver’s licenses, supporting both online and offline verification methods. The certification signifies that IDEMIA’s technology meets these robust security measures, including encryption and digital signatures, making it suitable for integration into existing IT infrastructures and enhancing the efficiency of identity verification processes at airports and other points of use.

Bermuda Human Rights Watchdog Raises FRT Concerns

The implementation of facial-recognition technology in Bermuda’s new security camera network has raised significant privacy and human rights concerns, with the Bermuda Human Rights Commission (HRC) expressing alarm over potential constitutional and international law conflicts. Lisa Reed, HRC’s executive officer, emphasized the urgent need to address the risks posed by facial-recognition technology to human rights. This sentiment echoes historical privacy concerns, such as those in 1997 regarding the introduction of CCTV in Hamilton. The new system, featuring enhanced tracking and recognition capabilities, is slated for operational status by summer.

North Wales Police Pilot Facial Recognition at Holyhead Port

North Wales Police are piloting live facial recognition technology at Holyhead Port for two days to identify individuals wanted for priority offenses, outstanding warrants, and missing persons. The system compares faces captured by cameras against watchlists of wanted or missing individuals. While effective in aiding law enforcement, privacy advocates have raised concerns about data storage and privacy. North Wales Police assured that biometric data of individuals not triggering alerts will be deleted immediately, and alerts will be deleted within 24 hours, while CCTV footage will be securely stored for 31 days. The police also highlighted advancements in algorithmic fairness and accuracy, citing supportive reports from South Wales Police, the Met, and the National Physics Laboratory.

CBP Scans Travelers in Their Cars at Arizona Border Crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is conducting a month-long pilot program at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, testing biometric facial scans of travelers in vehicles to automate document checks and enhance security. The technology captures images of vehicle occupants and matches them against government databases such as passport photos and visas. Photos of U.S. citizens are deleted within 12 hours, while those of foreign nationals are stored in the Department of Homeland Security’s Automated Biometric Identification System.

Oura Adds More Health Tracking Features for Women

Oura, the company behind the Oura Ring wearable, has introduced three new features to enhance women’s health monitoring: Cycle Insights 3.0, Cycle Aware Readiness Scores, and Cycle Insights Report. These features provide detailed information on menstrual cycle regularity, length, and period duration, adjust readiness scores based on cyclical biometric changes, and offer a comprehensive overview of cycle data, respectively. Developed with input from Oura’s Medical Advisory Board, the updates aim to give users deeper insights into their menstrual health and overall well-being.

Yoti, CLEAR Among Partners in Trinsic Digital ID Network

Trinsic has launched the world’s first identity acceptance network in partnership with various identity providers, including Yoti and CLEAR. The network uses reusable identity wallets from top-tier verification providers such as state-issued mobile driver’s licenses, eIDAS-compliant eIDs, and BankIDs. The initiative aims to address the fragmented digital ID market, enabling businesses to verify identities quickly and securely, thus reducing the traditional identity verification drop-off rate of 40 percent. New identities within the network are end-to-end encrypted and stored as W3C Verifiable Credentials.

Europe’s Digital ID Regulation Takes Effect, Paving Way for Mobile Wallet

The European Union’s Digital Identity Regulation has come into force, establishing a legal framework for digital identities across all EU member states. The regulation sets the stage for the EU Digital Identity Wallet, expected to be available by 2026, allowing citizens to store and manage identification documents such as IDs, driver’s licenses, and bank account details in one digital platform. The wallet will enable users to prove their identity and access services both online and offline without physical documents. Member states must offer a digital wallet application to their citizens, with official Digital ID Issuers providing the documents.

Police Circumvent FRT Bans by Asking Neighbors for Help

Police departments in major US cities like Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, California, have been circumventing local bans on facial recognition technology by seeking assistance from neighboring towns with fewer restrictions. This practice, revealed by a Washington Post review of police documents, shows that while San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) had no successful matches from their requests, Austin Police Department (APD) made several successful arrests following their requests. These searches were conducted without official authorization from the respective departments, prompting internal investigations into potential ordinance violations. Despite Clearview AI’s prohibition on data sharing with other agencies, cross-departmental requests persist.

EU’s AI Act to Enter Into Force Next Month

Europe’s pioneering AI Act will take effect next month following endorsement from EU countries. Initiated by the European Commission in 2021, the legislation sets a global standard for AI technology, contrasting with the United States’ lenient approach and China’s focus on state control. Among other things, the Act imposes stringent transparency requirements on high-risk AI systems and lighter obligations on general-purpose AI models, and restricts real-time biometric surveillance by governments to serious crime scenarios. Implementation will be staggered, starting with bans on AI in social scoring, predictive policing, and untargeted facial image scraping in six months, followed by general-purpose AI model obligations in 12 months, and AI systems in regulated products in 36 months. Penalties for non-compliance range from €7.5 million or 1.5 percent of turnover to €35 million or seven percent of global turnover.

Navigo Mobile Wallet to Ease Transportation Ahead of Paris Olympics

The Navigo Pass, essential for Parisian public transport, can now be added to iPhones and Apple Watches, a significant update coinciding with the upcoming Paris Olympics. Previously available only on Android, the digital Navigo pass can be integrated into the Apple Wallet app with the latest iOS 17.5 update and the Île-de-France Mobilités app. This development aims to facilitate seamless public transportation for residents and the anticipated influx of tourists during the 2024 summer Olympics. Within Apple Wallet, users can purchase and store various tickets, including standard and reduced fare T+ tickets, ticket books, day passes, and tickets for OrlyBus and RoissyBus, while weekly, monthly, and special passes need to be bought through the Île-de-France Mobilités app.

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May 22, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala