Proposed NYC Biometrics Laws, a Multimodal ‘Smart Gun’, 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:

NYC to Consider Proposed Biometrics Laws

New York City’s Committee on Technology has scheduled a meeting for April 25 to consider the oversight of the use of biometric identification systems in the city. Two proposed bills are on the agenda: One would make it illegal for a provider of public accommodation to use biometric technology to verify or identify a customer, while the other would prohibit the owner of a multiple-unit dwelling to use biometrics to identify tenants or their guests.

‘Smart Gun’ Locks Behind Fingerprint and Facial Recognition

Colorado-based startup BioFire has begun taking reservations for its biometric smart gun. The 9mm handgun is distinguished by its multimodal authentication system, comprising a fingerprint sensor embedded in its grip and a facial recognition system affixed to the rear of the weapon. BioFire’s focus is on gun safety; the company’s founder and CEO, 26-year-old Kai Kloepfer, began working on prototypes at the age of 15, after a mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, near his hometown.

Five Guys BIPA Case Moves to Arbitration

A lawsuit alleging that the Five Guys burger chain violated Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) will be moved into arbitration. The case concerns Five Guys’ use of a fingerprint-scanning time and attendance system. Plaintiff Jeremiah Greenwood conceded that moving to an arbitrator would be an appropriate means of resolving his complaint after Five Guys submitted a motion that would compel it.

CLEAR Teams With LinkedIn for Identity Verification

CLEAR is enabling enhanced identity verification for LinkedIn users thanks to a new partnership with the professional networking company. Individuals with a CLEAR membership can use it to confirm who they are and their credentials via an online app. The verification process prompts the end user to submit a selfie image or enroll their government-issued ID, with data matched against their LinkedIn profile. It’s the latest sign of CLEAR’s expansion beyond the area of expedited airport screening, with CLEAR’s platform also being used for access to venues such as sports stadiums, and even for cash- and card-free biometric purchases.\

Suprema Names New Sales Manager

Suprema America has named Scott Tobin as its Southeast Regional Sales Manager. Based in Florida, Tobin has held sales positions focused on the region at numerous firms including Paxton Access Ltd., Hikvision USA, Bosch, and, most recently, Honeywell. Commenting on his appointment, Tobin called Suprema “a world-class manufacturer in access control and biometrics,” adding, “I understand their strategy to market, which will also make Suprema a leader in the security industry and allow us to meet and exceed our targets.”

IDEX Solution Passes Mastercard Test

IDEX Biometrics’ latest fingerprint sensor solution has passed Mastercard’s Fingerprint Test Assessment Summary (FTAS), a development that IDEX CEO Vince Graziani called “an important milestone for IDEX Biometrics affirming our biometric solution’s compliance with highest security and functionality standards to card manufacturers, issuers and banks.” The sensor is a central component of IDEX’s biometric payment card solution, which also features Infineon’s SLC38 secure element.

Trust Stamp Obtains Notices of Allowance

Trust Stamp has received new Notices of Allowances for three patent applications from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. One of the patents concerns Trust Stamp’s IT² solution for irreversibly turning biometric data into an identity token, while another extends the use case for IT² into NFTs and the metaverse. The third patent “introduces a new authentication methodology utilizing evidence of control of third-party accounts,” the company explained in a statement. Trust Stamp recently reported a 46.4 percent year-over-year revenue jump for fiscal 2022.

Nok Nok Upgrades S3 Suite

Nok Nok Labs has launched the latest version of its flagship S3 Authentication Suite, delivering four new capabilities for the platform. The S3 Suite now enables organizations to configure authentication rules to detect when new devices are being used for passkey authentication and verify that the end user is the legitimate account holder. It also now enables organizations running e-commerce sites to let their customers easily sign in with a passkey, helping to reduce friction and prevent cart abandonment. Other new features include support for biometric payment confirmation and a security key tracking feature for organizations using the platform.

Partnership to Bring BenijLock Tech to Guitar Cases

BenjiLock has brought its fingerprint-scanning lock technology to the music industry, announcing a new partnership with TKL Cases that will see its biometric locks integrated into cases for fretted instruments like guitars, banjos, and mandolins. It isn’t yet clear when the first products will be launched, but BenjiLock says it is offering a first look at the technology at this week’s NAMM Show, a trade show for technology for the music industry that is underway in Anaheim, New York.

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April 13, 2023 – by Alex Perala

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