Privacy for the Dead, Promos with the Knicks, and More – 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:

FTC Bans Rite Aid from Using Facial Recognition

The US Federal Trade Commission has banned Rite Aid from using facial recognition technology in its retail locations, for a period of five years. It’s the result of a complaint that alleged that the pharmacy chain’s use of the technology to identify shoplifters generated thousands of false positives between 2012 and 2020, leading to humiliating confrontations with customers wrongly identified as thieves. “Today’s groundbreaking order makes clear that the Commission will be vigilant in protecting the public from unfair biometric surveillance and unfair data security practices,” said Samuel Levine, the Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Florida Bill Would Extend Biometric Privacy to the Dead

Proposed legislation in Florida would extend biometric privacy protections to the deceased. It’s a response to a practice in which funeral homes in the state offers customers jewelry imprinted with a departed loved one’s fingerprints. An Orlando resident was shocked to learn after his mother’s funeral that the funeral home had scanned her fingerprints and shared them with the personalized keepsake company Legacy Touch—all without anyone’s consent. That resident filed a formal complaint, leading to proposed legislation that would require funeral homes to disclose in writing which biometric data they collect, why they collect it, and whether it is shared with a third party. That disclosure would allow a legally authorized person to opt out of such a practice on behalf of the deceased.

Vermont Judge Refuses Summary Judgment for Clearview AI

A Vermont Superior Court ruling has refused to grant summary judgement in a lawsuit alleging that Clearview AI’s scraping of face images from the web to build its facial recognition platform violated the Vermont Consumer Protection Act. “The court cannot say that any reasonable Vermonter would find that the privacy violations ensuing from Clearview’s product outweigh the benefits,” wrote Judge Helen M. Toor, adding later, “The world of technology is changing too quickly, and with it the norms of society are changing. The determination of what is ‘unfair’ in this realm, and how to weigh the risks and benefits of technology such as Clearview’s, is one that requires a jury.”

UK Behavioral Biometrics Startup Plans 2024 Launch

A new behavioral biometrics startup is preparing to launch its flagship platform next year. Based in Manchester, Zally was founded in 2022, and has been building an authentication system that allows an end user to login simply by inputting a phone number or email. Its continuous behavioral analytics system determines whether the user is who they claim to be. “At Zally, we strongly believe it is time to ditch archaic passwords in favour of more dynamic and secure alternatives,” said CEO and founder Patrick Smith. The platform is expected to launch in the first half of 2024.

Sumsub Joins Singapore FinTech Association

Sumsub has joined the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA), having established its APAC headquarters in the city-state this past July. Membership in the SFA will bring networking opportunities and allow Sumsub to exhibit alongside the SFA at local trade shows including the annual Singapore FinTech Festival. In joining the organization, Sumsub has also joined the SFA RegTech, Payments, and Web 3.0 subcommittees. Sumsub is known for an identity platform that includes selfie-based identity verification, and a set of AI models designed to detect deepfakes.

Oura Teams with the Knicks

Oura has been named an Official Partner of the New York Knicks, offering new opportunities for the company to promote its biometric wearable device. In a statement, the organizations explained that Oura will present two “original content series” across digital channels, one of which will spotlight “the key role that strength and conditioning plays” in the Knicks, while the other will feature “custom storytelling content with Knicks Guard Jalen Brunson.”

New Aware Partner to Promote Tech in MEA Regions

Aware, Inc. has partnered with Avanza Solutions, an IT services firm with offices in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. The latter has officially joined Aware’s partner program, and will promote Aware’s biometric authentication technology to customers in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with a particular focus on the financial services sector. Aware’s Chief Revenue Officer, Craig Herman, asserted that the Middle East and Africa in particular are expected to see the fastest growth in financial services. “This represents a huge opportunity for us, as financial services providers seek to achieve enhanced security and user convenience, along with regulatory compliance,” he said.

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December 20, 2023 – by Alex Perala