Municipal Moves Under Scrutiny – 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:\

Iowa Launches IDEMIA-made mDL

IDEMIA has announced the official launch of Iowa’s mobile driver’s license, which the company developed in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Transportation. Registration involves the use of selfie-based identity verification, with user asked to scan both sides of their physical ID. The formal launch comes after a ‘soft launch’ in August that saw a group of businesses test mobile ID scanning. “Iowa is the first state in the nation to roll out a mobile ID with a large number of businesses across the state capable of accepting the ID,” said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. The mobile ID can also be used at TSA PreCheck lanes at the Des Moines International Airport and Cedar Rapids Municipal Airport. IDEMIA’s mobile ID tech has also been deployed in Oklahoma, Delaware, Arizona, and Mississippi.

SITA Teams With Arab League Air Carriers

SITA has teamed up with the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO), a regional airline trade association affiliated with the members of the Arab League. Geneva-based SITA is offering AACO its Sustainability Management Solution alongside its Travel Digital Identity Solution, which matches the biometric data on travelers’ e-passports to a digital credential stored on a smartphone. In a statement, AACO Secretary General Abdul Wahab Teffaha explained that “air travel should benefit from technology to make travel hassle free through airlines, airports and border control.”

Facial Recognition Under Scrutiny in New Orleans

Another report has shed light on the effectiveness of facial recognition searches requested by the New Orleans Police Department since the city resumed allowing such biometric searches about a year ago. A report from a City Council consultant this past summer found that 15 search requests had led to no arrests. Now, Politico finds that the number has climbed to 19 search requests, 15 of which were approved and conducted. Nine of them failed to find a match, but a successful match has now led to an arrest. Asked for comment, IDEMIA, which provides the Louisiana State Police face search system used by the NOPD, said it offers an “efficiency and accuracy improvement” in police investigations.

San Francisco Mayor Wants to Relax Surveillance Tech Rules

San Francisco Mayor London Breed has announced a public safety measure that would ease some of the regulations in place for the city’s police department. This includes a proposed rule that would allow police to acquire new surveillance technologies without the need to get permission from supervisors, though it would require them to propose internal guidelines for the technology’s use within one year of acquiring it. It would also let police use drones and public surveillance cameras without approval from the Board of Supervisors. San Franciscans will be able to vote on the measure in a March 2024 ballot.

Product Upgrades From Suprema, Veriff

Suprema has unveiled the latest version of its flagship BioStation access control terminal. The key differentiator for BioStation 2a is its use of an AI algorithm for fingerprint recognition that is based on deep learning, and supported by an embedded Neural Processing Unit. Suprema says it has achieved 30 percent improvement in accuracy with respect to extracting templates from low-quality fingerprints, and a faster matching speed. BioStation 2a supports up to 50,000 users for 1:1 matching, and 100,000 for 1:N matching. It also supports RFID and mobile access via BLE and NFC, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -20℃ to 60℃.

Veriff has upgraded its flagship identity verification platform, with a strong emphasis on speed and automation. The company says its IDV solution has a faster response time, delivering an output in five seconds that offers a decision on identity verification alongside a risk score and other insights. It can also now be configured to enable 100 percent automated identity verification, with no human involvement, though a a hybrid option is still available for organizations that would like extra assurance from trained identity verification specialists.

Trust Stamp to Provide Q3 Update

Trust Stamp will deliver its third quarter results for 2023 on Tuesday, November 7, after market close. The company has been focusing on opportunities in the ‘alternatives to detention‘ market, having recently announced a wrist-worn device that is designed to look like a fitness tracking wristband, helping the wearer to avoid the stigma of an offender under community supervision. The ‘Tap-In Band’ also links to a mobile app, which uses facial recognition to verify the identity of its wearer.

Denmark Shuts Down Legacy Digital ID System

Denmark’s legacy digital ID service, NemID, has shut down, with the new MitID app taking its place. There had been concerns about the change given NemID’s wide use for everyday activities like online shopping, and the difficulty some users may have in swtiching to a new digital ID app. The country’s Agency for Digital Government says that 98 percent of Danes over the age of 15 had made the switch before NemID was shut down at midnight on October 31, and that it was working with non-government organizations focused on the elderly, the homeless, and other vulnerable populations to help get the remaining two percent onboard.

–

November 1, 2023 – by Alex Perala