Rules and Oversight in the Spotlight – 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:

EU Negotiators Reach a Deal on AI Act

European Union negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on regulations for artificial intelligence and related technologies. With respect to biometric technologies, the AI Act would restrict the use of real-time biometric surveillance to cases in which authorities are seeking to prevent genuine and pending threats, or are seeking victims or perpetrators of certain kinds of serious crimes. It also prohibits the collection of face images from the internet and from CCTV footage, and prohibits the use of AI to categorize people based on race or sexual orientation. The law still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union; assuming that happens, it should become legally binding in early 2024, and is expected to actually be applied within a couple of years after that.

UK’s Former Biometrics Commissioner Takes Role With Facial Recognition Firm

Fraser Sampson, the United Kingdom’s former Biometric & Surveillance Camera Commissioner, took a position with a facial recognition company the day after he left office, reports The Guardian. He is now a non-executive director for Facewatch, whose surveillance technology has seen a growing number of deployments across UK retailers over the past several months, having received formal clearance from the Information Commissioner’s Office in March. Sampson says he was approached by the company after he gave notice that he would leave his post as Biometric & Surveillance Camera Commissioner in August, and that he had his decision to join the company cleared with the Home Office.

Parliamentary Committee Plans ‘Short Investigation’ Into Police Facial Recognition

The UK Parliament’s Justice and Home Affairs Committee has announced that it is launching “a short investigation” into the police use of live facial recognition technology (LFR). This will comprise a single “oral evidence session” in which the committee will hear from representatives of the police, a LFR vendor, and academics. Possible topics of discussion outlined by the Committee include the matter of how to develop “meaningful human engagement with LFR”, the acquisition process, and accountability and transparency on the part of police. The session is scheduled for December 12.

Korean Researchers Develop Wearable Quantum Dot Photosensor

Korean researchers have developed what they claim to be the world’s best-performing eco-friendly quantum dot photosensor that does not require an external power source, and they have also made a skin-attachable, ultra-thin pulse sensor based on the technology. Quantum dots are semiconductor particles that are small enough to exhibit the properties of quantum mechanics; they produce electrical signals when they are hit by light, and can be manipulated to react to different wavelengths. Their full paper was published in ACS Nano.

BIO-key Tech Comes to Ping Identity Platform

BIO-key’s biometric authentication technology has been integrated into the Ping Identity Integration Directory, enabling Ping customers to easily implement it via the PingOne Cloud Platform. BIO-key itself, meanwhile, has officially joined the Ping Identity Global Technology Partner Program. The latter has seen a growing number of biometrics specialists join its ranks in recent years, with facial recognition specialist iProov having got on board in September. At the start of this year, BIO-key named Galen Rodgers, previously the Director of Channel Sales Americas for Ping Identity, as its new VP of Channels.

New Platform Enables Digital ID On China’s Blockchain Platform

Malaysia-based Zetrix has launched a blockchain-based “Digital Credentials” platform in partnership with Beitou, a state-owned Chinese tech firm. Initially, the platform will enable Chinese citizens to create digital versions of their National ID or driver’s license. These digital “Verifiable Credentials” would be stored on Xinghuo International, which the companies characterize as “the international gateway” for China’s Public Blockchain. Zetrix is integrated with Xinghuo, so organizations can use its platform to verify the digital credentials of Chinese national when they travel abroad. Beitou’s role involves the integration of China’s national police and transportation databases for authentication.

Academic Advisory Institute Details Guardrails for NSW Digital ID

The James Martin Institute for Public Policy (JMI), an independent formal advisory partner of the New South Wales Government in Australia, has issued a paper on governance and training safeguards for a government-administrated digital ID. Among other recommendations, the paper argues that any proposed “NSW Digital ID” should be established in law, monitored independently, and available equally to all residents. It also argues for strong privacy protections and data security, and suggests that the NSW Digital ID should be “developed with a view to integrating with federal and other Australian digital identity systems.”

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December 11, 2023 – by Alex Perala