Meta, MSG, and an EV Biometrics Embarrassment: 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:

New Meta Dataset Designed to Fight Bias in AI Training

Meta has launched a new dataset for AI training aimed at helping to reduce demographic bias in biometric systems such as facial recognition. “Casual Conversations v2” comprises over 25,000 video recordings of over 5,000 individuals, who identify their age, gender, race, and other characteristics. The individuals were paid to participate in the project, and provided consent for the use of their biometric data, which could help Meta to avoid the kind of privacy lawsuit that arose from private companies’ use of IBM’s “Diversity in Faces Dataset”.

MSG’s Facial Recognition Spat Leads to Liquor Board Lawsuit

The controversy over Madison Square Garden’s use of facial recognition technology has now led to a lawsuit on the entertainment company’s part against the New York State Liquor Authority. MSG had used facial recognition to detect a lawyer involved in litigation against the company, proceeding to eject her from a concert to which she had a ticket. As a result, the SLA moved to ban MSG’s liquor license, arguing that license holders are required to allow public access to their premises. In a statement announcing the lawsuit, MSG CEO James Dolan called the SLA a “gangster-like governmental organization”, accusing it of corruption.

Philippines Lawmakers Call for Biometric Border Control; Police Upgrade Bookings System

Lawmakers in the Philippines are calling for more biometric border security. House member Johnny Pimentel, the Vice Chairperson of the Good Government and Public Accountability committee, has issued a statement calling on the Department of Justice to set up a biometric border screening plan, highlighting the potential use of face, fingerprint, and iris biometrics. His statement follows comments from incoming Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla calling for the use of biometrics in tracking foreign visitors who overstay their visas.

The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, have launched a digital booking system for criminals. Whereas the police force used to store physical fingerprint records in filing cabinets, the new “e-Booking” system integrates a digital Automated Fingerprint Identification System with other police databases. The PNP is also rolling out new biometric scanning equipment to help standardize criminal bookings.

UK Sportswear Retailer Deploys Facewatch Security System

Sports Direct, a UK-based sportswear retailer, has deployed facial recognition technology across at least 12 of its outlets in an effort to combat shoplifting. The technology was provided by the British firm Facewatch, which says its solution is GDPR-compliant. The Facewatch system scans each visitor to a given store to check their face against a watchlist, sending an alert to store personnel if a match is detected.

Xpeng Motors to Remove Cars’ Biometric System After Online Mockery

China-based XPeng Motors has announced that it will remove a biometric driver authentication system from its electric vehicles after it faced ridicule on the social media platform Weibo. A viral video depicted an XPeng Motors driver kneeling down in front of his car’s bumper for a face scan required by the vehicle. “Never in my life would I have expected this,” the driver said. Xpeng says it will work to improve the driver authentication system.

Nigeria Delays State Elections Over Biometric Voter ID Glitches

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has delayed state elections due to technical issues with the biometric voter identification system deployed in the country’s recent presidential election. While the elections had originally been scheduled for this past weekend, they have been delayed until March 18 “to ensure that there is adequate time to back up the data” stored on INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the agency explained. Glitches with the biometric devices during the presidential election – among other issues – have raised serious questions about the vote’s credibility.

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March 13, 2023 – by Alex Perala

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