The Pope Has Some Thoughts On AI and Facial Recognition – 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:

Kenyan School Authorities Mull Biometric Student Attendance

The chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), Kahi Indimuli, says school authorities are considering the implementation of biometric attendance tracking systems for students. Speaking at the 46th Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Conference in Mombasa, Indimuli framed the move as a potential alternative to the practice of linking student identities to their National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) numbers. His comments come as government authorities in the country continue to pursue a digital ID system that could be modelled in part on Pakistan’s National Database and Registration.

Madison Square Gardens Faces Biometric Privacy Lawsuit

Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. is now facing a proposed class action lawsuit over its use of facial recognition for security. Plaintiff M. Ross Arnel alleges that the venue operator profited from its collection of visitors’ biometric data, in violation of the New York City Biometric Law. The legal action is the latest of the fallout from Radio City Music Hall’s refusal of entry to an attorney whose firm was involved in cases against MSG at the end of last year — an incident that provoked outrage and even led to civil hearings about use of facial recognition in the city.

Judge Rejects YouTube’s Call for Dismissal of BIPA Case

Judge James Donato of the US District Court for the Northern District of California has rejected YouTube’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that it violated Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) with its “Face Blur” and “Thumbnail Generator” video editing tools. Plaintiff Nathan Colombo alleges that the Google-owned platform failed to obtain consent for its collection of biometric data, and that it did provide the proper data retention disclosures. Judge Donato determined that BIPA’s protections apply even when the biometric data collected is not used to identify an individual.

Worldcoin Becomes Login Option on Okta’s Auth0 Marketplace

Okta’s Auth0 Marketplace now supports Worldcoin as a login option, signaling growing support for the ambitious crypto project. Founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Alexander Blania, Worldcoin is building a blockchain-based identity platform that involves the use of iris scans to verify end users. The Auth0 Marketplace is meant to offer developers a range of login tools, but its support for Worldcoin won’t necessarily require end users to sign in with their iris biometrics. Instead, developers will get access to a “Sign in with Worldcoin” social login tool that lets end users scan a QR code on their World App or another digital wallet from the Worldcoin ecosystem.

FaceTec SVP Explains ‘PKI Fallacy’

FaceTec’s SVP of Operations, Jay Meier, has expanded on his concept of “the PKI Fallacy” in a wide-ranging interview with FindBiometrics Editor in Chief Peter Counter. Other topics covered in the video interview include the difference between device-native and on-premises biometrics, the need for secure account recovery, and the insights gleaned from FaceTec’s biometric spoof bounty program.

Yoti Comes to Salesforce AppExchange

Yoti’s identity verification technology is now available through the Salesforce AppExchange. In a blog post, the company emphasized that for companies taking advantage of the technology, it “removes the need to see or store physical documents, speeds up onboarding and strengthens ID checks.” It also allows them to manage all of the data involved through their Salesforce accounts. The integration’s announcement marks the latest in a flurry of activity from Yoti, which revealed this week that its technology had been embraced by the Canadian employment screening firm Bretton Management Profiles, and announced earlier this month that it had teamed up with Mitek and Synectics Solutions to develop an identity fraud intelligence sharing program in the United Kingdom.

Holy See Looks at Computer Vision

Pope Francis has partnered with Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics to form a new body called the Institute for Technology, Ethics, and Culture (ITEC), which has published a new handbook entitled “Ethics in the Age of Disruptive Technologies: An Operational Roadmap“. The handbook is aimed at offering some ethical guidance in areas of technology including artificial intelligence, machine learning, encryption, and even facial recognition.

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June 30, 2023 – by Alex Perala