Searching for Faces in Big Databases

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:

Wins for Clearview AI at Local, Federal Levels

The Eldridge Police Department in Iowa has integrated facial recognition technology into its investigative toolkit, leveraging Clearview AI’s database of over 40 billion public images. This move was motivated by a successful identification and arrest of a suspect involved in a fraudulent transaction at a local bank. The technology, which costs the department approximately $3,500 annually, has already proven useful in resolving cases of shoplifting, among other crimes, according to the Department. Speaking to a local outlet, officer Garrett Jahns noted that his team has cooperation agreements with neighboring agencies. “If they have a serious crime they’re looking at, we’re gonna be more than happy to help them,” he said.

Clearview AI has also been granted “Awardable” status in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s (CDAO) Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace. This designation by the Department of Defense (DoD) positions Clearview AI’s platform as a trusted application for national defense contracts within Tradewinds, the DoD’s initiative aimed at expediting the procurement of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, data, and analytics solutions for enhancing national defense. “National Security and Military organizations will get immediate access to a secure facial recognition search engine that can help to identify unknown individuals and enhance national security efforts using Open Source Intelligence (OSINT),” explained Clearview CEO Hoan Ton-That.

India’s NATGRID Builds Massive Face Database

India’s National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) in India has amassed facial data covering about 80 percent of the nation’s population (assuming no duplicates), according to an unnamed “high-ranking official”. This extensive database includes facial recognition data capable of identifying individuals even when they are wearing masks, a feature that proved particularly useful during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NATGRID, which has established partnerships with various government entities such as the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Income Tax department, aims to bolster law enforcement capabilities by facilitating the tracking of individuals involved in criminal activities.

Moscow to Expand Use of Biometric Fare Payments

Moscow is implementing a variety of smart city technologies in its transportation system, including facial recognition for biometric fare payment and driverless trams. The city plans to launch driverless trams by 2030, with the technology eventually being implemented across the entire tram network and potentially metro lines as well. Facial recognition for fare payment is expanding across the metro system and will be tested on additional public transport options. Moscow is also working to integrate ticketing systems with surrounding areas to improve ease of travel.

Hawaii Explores Biometric Border Screening Tech

Hawaii’s Governor is pushing for initiatives to streamline travel between Hawaii and Japan. This includes Hawaii’s Department of Transportation looking into using biometric screening technology for faster and more secure identity verification at airports. Hawaii is also seeking to expand CBP’s Global Entry program for Japanese citizens, allowing them to bypass customs lines upon arrival in the US. Global Entry is currently capped at 1,500 Japanese citizens, but the Biden Administration is currently working with the Japanese government to expand the program to all Japanese citizens by the end of 2024.

Appdome Launches Social Engineering Prevention Service

Appdome has unveiled a new Social Engineering Prevention service designed to protect mobile apps from attacks that target users. A key element of this service is the ability to detect attempts to bypass biometric authentication systems (like FaceID) on Android and iOS devices. The platform can also detect other common social engineering techniques such as vishing, remote desktop control, and SIM swapping attacks. Appdome’s solution promises real-time detection and intervention to disrupt social engineering attacks as they take place. The company is aiming its solution primarily at mobile brands, which CEO Tom Tovar says “are taking social engineering attacks seriously.”

Paravision Unveils Age Estimation Tool

Paravision has officially launched its own age estimation tool based on face biometrics. The solution is available in the form of a Software Development Kit or packaged in Docker-based products, and can be used independent of Paravision’s face-matching technology, helping to ensure end users’ privacy. The product launch comes after Paravision’s announcement last fall that it had teamed up with Persona, a San Francisco-based identity verification startup, on a planned “age estimation and verification” tool. At the time, the companies explained that their joint solution would estimate an end user’s age based on a selfie image, and that it would use Persona’s “granular data retention and redaction policies” to protect privacy. Read our full story.

File Management System Gets Face Search Capability

FileShadow, a cloud-based file management service, has launched new features that use facial detection and recognition technology to identify people in photographs. This lets users tag people in photos, making them searchable when organizing photos around a particular individual. The system can’t perform just any facial recognition searches, however—faces need to be manually tagged for future searches. FileShadow says these tags are only available to the account owner for privacy reasons. In addition to people, FileShadow can be used to create custom tags for objects in photographs.

USPTO to Revisit ASSA ABLOY’s Biometric Patent Dispute

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has re-evaluted its earlier rulings on certain CPC Patent Technologies patents due to disputes over the interpretation of the term “biometric signal,” following a challenge by ASSA ABLOY—and it has decided to vacate them. The dispute between ASSA ABLOY – a conglomerate specializing in locks and security solutions, including biometric time and access tech – and CPC Patent Technologies led to a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision that only confused things further, the USPTO has now determined. Read our full story.

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March 19, 2024 – by Alex Perala and Tony Bitzionis