Navigating Laws and Reading Brainwaves – 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:

Attorneys Seek Claimants for BIPA Arbitration Effort Against Video Game Maker

Attorneys are investigating potential violations of Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by Activision, the publisher of Call of Duty games. They suspect that Activision may have unlawfully collected and stored Illinois players’ voiceprints without proper consent through the game’s voice chat feature in titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Modern Warfare II, and Modern Warfare III. This issue revolves around ToxMod, an AI system used since November 2023 to monitor in-game voice chats for inappropriate content. The system’s potential to capture and retain players’ unique voice patterns without adhering to BIPA’s stringent consent and disclosure requirements could constitute a privacy infringement. The attorneys are encouraging Illinois residents affected to join a mass arbitration effort. Participation is cost-free, with attorney fees contingent upon winning the claim, and compensation could reach up to $5,000 per violation under BIPA for those whose voiceprints were improperly handled.

Biometric Privacy Laws Help to Buck Law Firm Hiring Downtrend

Amid a major slowdown in law firm hiring, though a few are bucking the trend for various reasons—including the emergence of biometric privacy laws. Speaking to Reuters, a partner with Major, Lindsey & Africa, a global law firm, spoke to “a huge demand” for labor and employment associates as employers grapple with issues like biometric data privacy, noncompete agreements, and pay transparency. Another law firm, Jackson Lewis, added 130 lateral associates last year and reports high demand for services. Like Major, Lindsey & Africa, Jackson Lewis has a Chicago location among its roster of offices.

Greek Data Watchdog Fines Refugee Ministry

Greece’s Personal Data Protection Authority has fined the Ministry of Migration and Asylum €175,000 for privacy violations related to biometric control and surveillance systems deployed in refugee reception centers. The violations were reported by the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR), and Homo Digitalis, an internet-user rights organization, in February of 2022. The Authority found the Ministry failed to provide sufficient documentation on how the systems operate and how personal data is processed, in violation of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

NZ Privacy Commissioner Begins FRT Investigation

New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner has revealed a list of North Island supermarkets trialing facial recognition technology for security purposes. This comes as an inquiry launches to investigate Foodstuffs’ six-month trial of FRT in 25 stores. The inquiry will assess the effectiveness of FRT in reducing crime while ensuring compliance with privacy laws. Key areas of focus include data safeguards, user awareness, potential bias, and staff training. The Commissioner emphasizes the importance of minimizing privacy risks and confirms this is the only known instance of FRT in the retail sector.

Former IP Lawyer Appointed to SIA’s Data Privacy Board

Robert “Bobby” Prostko, the Chief Privacy Officer and Deputy General Counsel at Allegion, has been appointed as the new chair of the Security Industry Association (SIA)’s Data Privacy Advisory Board. In this role, Prostko will lead the board’s initiatives to educate and inform the security industry on best practices for safeguarding personally identifiable information, amidst the complexities of global privacy laws and regulations. Prior to his nearly nine-year term with Allegion, Prostko was a lawyer specializing in intellectual property. He has also served as an advisory member of the Indiana governor’s Executive Council on Cybersecurity since 2019.

Brainwave Monitoring Firm Says Platform Can Detect Lies

Brainwave Science, Inc. has unveiled significant updates to its iCognative technology, introducing a web application that marks a substantial progress in brain-computer interface (BCI) and deception detection fields. Brainwave Science claims that by leveraging advanced brainwave analytics and biometrics, its solution offers enhanced accuracy in identifying deceit and future intentions without necessitating extensive training or special equipment. The iCognative Web Application collects high-quality data through a proprietary EEG headset and uses advanced data processing techniques, and provides comprehensive monitoring of subjects’ physiological states.

FPC Boosts HQ Security With Freevolt Tech

Fingerprint Cards has bolstered security at its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden by implementing biometric access control cards. The S-Key cards, created by Freevolt Technologies Limited, use Fingerprints’ own T2 sensors to verify a user’s identity through fingerprints. This upgrade replaces key fobs and strengthens overall security while allowing for role-based access control. The S-Key cards are battery-free due to Freevolt’s radio frequency energy harvesting technology, and the entire rollout was completed within an hour.

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April 4, 2024 – by Alex Perala and Tony Bitzionis