More Money On the Table for Expert Spoofers: 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:

FaceTec Triples Spoof Bounty Reward

FaceTec has tripled the total potential payout of its Spoof Bounty Program, raising the prize for successful spoof and camera-bypass attacks to $600,000. The program incentivizes white-hat security researchers to really try to hack its flagship biometric technology, enabling FaceTec to quickly become apprised of any security flaws that might need to be addressed. And in so doing, it demonstrates the quality and effectiveness of FaceTec’s solution, especially now that it offers such a sizeable payout to successful spoofers. Read our full story.

Veridos Acquires Serbia’s NetSeT

Veridos has acquired Serbia-based NetSeT Global Solutions, via a controlling stake in the identity management systems developer. The acquisition should help to further reinforce Veridos as a major provider of identity solutions. The company claims clients across over 100 countries, and offers solutions ranging from chip components to mobile IDs to biometric identification systems. Read our full story.

NEXT Seeks China Expansion With Strategic Partner

Oslo-based NEXT Biometrics has established a strategic partnership with Wiser, a China-focused market entry, equity advisor and venture partner. In announcing the partnership, Wiser Group CEO Kevin Chen called it “a cost-effective way for NEXT to increase its presence in one of the world’s largest biometric markets,” adding that his company “has a proven track record enabling European tech companies to succeed in China.” NEXT says that it expects the partnership to start generating revenue growth by the end of the year.

Jumio Boosts Sales Team With New Appointments

Jumio is looking to supercharge its sales efforts, announcing two senior appointments to that wing as it seeks to further boost the momentum gained during a very successful 2022. The company has named former Trulioo president Jon Jones as its new Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, and promoted Simon Winchester to the role of Vice President of Global Account Management.

Whoop Teams With Health Recovery Device Specialist

Whoop, the company behind an eponymous health-tracking wristband, has teamed up with Hyperice to assess the latter’s health recovery products’ effectiveness on end users. The collaboration will specifically look at Hyperice’s Hypervolt percussion massage device and its Normatec dynamic air compression system. Both the Whoop wristband and Hyperice’s solutions will feed data through the Apple Health app. In a statement, the companies described the integration as “the first of multiple joint initiatives between the brands that aim to further understand the impact of percussion massage and dynamic air compression on physical recovery while advancing human performance through quantitative data.”

Cognitec Brings ID Matching to FaceVACS-Entry Solution

Cognitec has enhanced its FaceVACS-Entry solution with new identity verification and Presentation Attack Detection capabilities. The face-scanning device is aimed at border control applications including eGates, kiosks, and border control booths, and can now match a subject against their photo ID, or against a given database. “The combined service of photo capture and person verification saves travelers lots of time at the border,” explained Cognitec Managing Director Alfredo Herrera.

ROC Brings American Biometric Tech to MOSIP

Rank One Computing (ROC) has partnered with the Modular Open Source Identity Platform (MOSIP). Developed by the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB), MOSIP is aimed at supporting large-scale, government-led identity initiatives on a cost-effective basis, and has been adopted for projects in the Philippines, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ethiopia, Republic of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and the Togolese Republic. While multiple biometrics vendors have made their solutions available through MOSIP, ROC is notable for being a US-based firm offering solutions that have attained top rankings in NIST testing.

Kenyan President Tries to Steer Digital ID Back On Track

The President of Kenya is trying to get a years-long digital ID program back on track. In a speech at the end of last week, President William Ruto said that he has asked the country’s Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy (“ICT”) to make establishing a digital ID for Kenyans into a reality by the end of this year. As for what Kenya’s digital ID system would look like as it begins to take shape under the Ruto administration, the details remain unclear. But it may be worth noting that biometric technology has been relatively popular in the country. Read the full story on Mobile ID World.

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January 31, 2023 – by Alex Perala

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