Microsoft Settles Its Children’s Online Privacy Protection Case

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

Microsoft Reaches $20M Settlement in FTC’s COPPA Case

Microsoft has reached a $20 million settlement of charges from the Federal Trade Commission concerning its collection of personal information from minors using its Xbox gaming system. The company had been accused of violating the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by failing to obtain parental consent when collecting such data, and has now committed to improving its account creation process to ensure compliance. “This action should also make it abundantly clear that kids’ avatars, biometric data, and health information are not exempt from COPPA,” said FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine.

Onfido Obtains ETSI Certification

Onfido has obtained ETSI TS 119 461 certification, elevating its profile as a provider of identity solutions in the European Union and beyond. ETSI TS 119 461 is the latest EU technical standard for identity proofing and trust services, established by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, or ETSI. Attaining certification against the standard confirms Onfido as an Identity Proofing Service Provider (IPSP) for Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs) — essentially verifying that the latter can use Onfido’s technology for identity verification.

BlockID Comes to AWS Marketplace

1Kosmos’s BlockID solution is now available through AWS Marketplace, a curated list of third-party digital solutions that run on Amazon Web Services. The development comes after BlockID’s listing on the ForgeRock Marketplace in April, illustrating 1Kosmos’s efforts to extend the availability of its flagship solution. BlockID is a passwordless authentication solution that revolves around the use of QR code and face scanning, with users prompted to blink or smile for liveness detection.

IDnow Upgrades Identity Platform

Munich-based IDnow has enhanced its identity verification platform, adding an ID liveness check that asks the end user to record a video of their identity document. The platform also now screens end users against Politically Exposed Persons and sanctions lists, helping organizations with AML and KYC compliance; and it has a new “Financial Risk Checks” feature based on third-party data and self-declared information from the end user. IDnow became the first company to obtain a LSTI ISO/IEC 30107 Certificate through a new testing program from CLR Labs and LSTI last month.

BIO-key Welcomes Finance Pro to Board

Cameron E. Williams, a seasoned finance executive, has joined BIO-key’s board of directors. Having served as President of Popular Financial Holdings from 1998 to 2007 and after senior roles with Security Pacific Financial Service and BankAmerica Financial, Williams went on to serve as COO of Asta Funding from 2007 to 2009, where he oversaw “the sourcing and financial analysis of distressed consumer asset investments and their liquidation,” according to a statement. He then founded a fraud investigation firm called CEW Solutions, and now leads a consulting firm called CEW Advisory Services. BIO-key CEO Mike DePasquale welcomed Williams’ “strong financial acumen and perspective”.

Daon Gets Frost & Sullivan Acclaim

Frost & Sullivan has listed Daon as one of the business leaders highlighted in its “Frost Radar: Biometric Authentication Solutions” report, which assesses firms based on their growth and innovation. “Daon is among the highest-scoring vendors on the Innovation Index due to its comprehensive feature set and multiple platform offerings,” commented Frost & Sullivan’s Industry Manager for Commercial & Public Security, Danielle VanZandt. Daon recently announced a cloud-based version of its flagship solution, IdentityX.

Trust Stamp Raises Funds With Purchase Agreement, Private Placement

Trust Stamp expects to raise about $2.9 million, minus service fees and related expenses, through a securities purchase agreement with a single institutional investor as well as through a concurrent private placement. The company had marked a 46.4 percent year-over-year revenue jump in its update for fiscal 2022, but also reported a deeper net loss, at $12.09 million, compared to a net loss of $9.05 million a year earlier. The company has also received another Notice of Allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office, this time for a system for using third-party digital accounts as authentication factors.

Women’s Safety App Leverages Aware Biometrics

A new public safety app aimed at women is using biometric technology from Aware, Inc. to verify the identities of its users. Currently being piloted in Edmonton, Alberta, “A Safer Walk” is meant to connect women who are interested in sharing walks, cab rides, and public transit commutes in order “to reduce the stress and anxiety associated with the risk of gender-based violence that may occur when women are alone,” according to a statement from Aware.

AuthenTrend Smart Card to Feature IDEX Biometrics Tech

AuthenTrend, a Taiwan-based provider of authentication and access control solutions, is preparing to launch a fingerprint-scanning card based on technology from IDEX. The “ATKey” card will be offered for cryptocurrency and access control applications, and is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of this year. “This new product will provide our customers with the most secure and convenient way to access their devices and services,” explained AuthenTrend VP Zake Huang.

Synaptics Unveils “Triton FS7800” Fingerprint Sensor

Synaptics has launched a new fingerprint sensor solution designed for PCs and other electronic devices. The “Triton FS7800” is a single-chip, “Match-in-Sensor” solution that contains a processor and cryptographic capabilities to enable biometric matching in an entirely isolated environment, helping to guard against any potential hacking or malware attacks. It is compliant with Microsoft Windows Hello requirements, and offers NIST SP 800-193-level firmware protection. It was commercially launched at this year’s Computex event.

Jumio Research Finds Consumers Confident About Deepfake Detection

Consumer research conducted for the “Jumio 2023 Online Identity Study” found that 67 percent of respondents were aware of generative AI tools, and that 52 percent believed they could detect deepfake videos – prompting Jumio CTO Stuart Wells to issue a note of caution. “While there are certainly tell-tale signs to look for, deepfakes are getting exponentially better all the time and are becoming increasingly difficult to detect without the aid of AI,” he said. The survey polled 8,055 adults across the UK, the US, Singapore, and Mexico.

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June 6, 2023 – by Alex Perala