Iran’s Surveillance Regime Gets Hacked – Identity News Digest

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

British Security Industry Seeks Clarity On a Post-Biometrics Commissioner World

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is asking the United Kingdom government to clarify how it plans to “fill the void” left when the country’s Biometric & Surveillance Camera Commissioner (B&SCC) effectively disappears. The current Commissioner, Fraser Sampson, recently announced his pending resignation, scheduled for October. Meanwhile, legislation before parliament is expected to subsume the B&SCC under the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, and will end a requirement for the government to publish a Surveillance Camera Code of Practice. “The B&SCC was a sterling example of a government and private sector partnership with tangible outcomes of benefit to all; failure to continue in a similar vein would be detrimental to any progress in future implementation of codes of conduct,” said the BSIA’s Director of Technical Services, Dave Wilkinson.

Hacking Group Claims to Have Iran’s Surveillance Secrets

The hacking group GhostSec claims that it has breached Iran’s “Fanap Behnama”, which it describes as a digital surveillance system used by the ruling regime to monitor citizens. GhostSec says it has 20GB of data including source code, and that the surveillance system includes facial recognition technology designed to operate through a Single Sign-On system used by the regime. While there is no mention of “Fanap Behnama” in English-language news reports prior to GhostSec’s claims, an ICT company called Fanap has been in operation in Iran for several years, and appears to be affiliated with Bank Pasargad. GhostSec says it will upload its data trove to a dedicated Telegram channel.

QNAP Launches AI-Infused NAS Solution

Taiwan-based QNAP Systems has announced a new, AI-enabled Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device for surveillance applications. The AI NAS TS-AI642 features an ARM 8-core processor together with a 6 TOPS Neural Processing Unit, enabling image recognition at a low cost in terms of power. QNAP says it’s the first ARM-based AI NAS on the market, and is pitching it at small and medium-sized enterprises, including those with facial recognition needs. The product’s launch comes after QNAP integrated Hailo’s QVR Face and QVR Human technologies into its platform earlier this year.

ROC.ai Reaches PAD Level 2

ROC.ai has become the latest facial recognition specialist to achieve Level 2 compliance in iBeta’s Presentation Attack Detection evaluation program. The company’s liveness detection system, which is designed to work with images and videos from any source, fended off 100 percent of the testing program’s presentation attacks, which included the use of sophisticated methods including the use of latex masks. The company has also disclosed a metric that many others do not after undergoing PAD Level 2 testing: its solution’s false rejection rate came in at 3.2 percent, well under iBeta’s 15 percent threshold.

Incode Teams Up With Simpello

Incode has entered into a strategic alliance with Simpello, the provider of an identity platform focused on the hospitality and retail sectors. In announcing their partnership, the companies explained that it entails “integrating Incode’s biometric identity proofing solutions with Simpello’s patented interactive decentralization platform.” Just about a month ago, Simpello had announced the integration of CyberLink’s FaceMe solution into its identity platform, allowing for the use of selfie-based identity verification.

RAIsonance Turns Cough Biometrics Tech to Air Quality Assessments

RAIsonance has adapted its unique biometric technology to track the health impacts of poor air quality. The Colorado-based startup has engineered a kind of cough biometrics system, which formed the basis of an authentication system called SoundPass that the company announced in 2021. Now, it’s launching an “Air Quality Human Impact Program (AQHIP)”, which will operate through a mobile app and analyze the “intentional coughs” of those who choose to participate. The company says participants will be asked to cough into the mobile app “at least once a day.”

TSA Seeks mDL Carve-Out From REAL ID Rules

The Transportation Security Administration is seeking public comment on a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” that would allow the continued use of mobile driver’s licenses even after the Real ID requirement takes effect in May of 2025. Real ID is a federal ID standard that will be required from US travelers seeking to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities. But with the TSA now experimenting with accepting mDLs such as Apple’s digital ID, the organization wants to make sure that such innovation isn’t stifled when Real ID takes effect. The TSA will accept comments until October 16, 2023.

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August 30, 2023 – by Alex Perala