Thailand Charts Its Own ‘Smart Path’ For Aviation – 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:

ITRC Tracks Uptick in Cyberattacks On Small Businesses

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) has published its latest annual “Business Impact Report” (“BIR”), based on surveys of 551 small business owners, leaders, and employees. The ITRC found a record number of cyberattacks against small businesses in the three years it has been conducting this survey. And while the percentage of businesses reporting lost revenue due to an attack was three percent lower compared to last year, at 42 percent, there were higher rates of other impacts including the percentage of businesses reporting lost customer trust (32 percent) and higher employee turnover (32 percent). The report’s publication comes after the ITRC’s “2023 Consumer Impact Report” illustrated the human cost of cybercrime in late summer.

Cross-Institution Report Backs UK Biometrics Commissioner’s Warnings

An academic report from The Centre for Research into Information, Surveillance and Privacy is backing up the outgoing UK Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s warnings about a lack of regulatory oversight in the country. The Centre is a collaborative initiative between multiple higher education institutions, including departments dedicated to law, political science, and management. Its report, which was commissioned by the Commissioner, warns that a proposed “Data Protection and Digital Information Bill” will “create significant gaps” in regulation across England and Wales by eliminating the office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, as well as removing the requirement for a “Surveillance Camera Code of Practice”.

UK’s Top Cop Doubles Down On Facial Recognition

At the same time, the United Kingdom’s Policing Minister, Chris Philp, is doubling down on his support for the use of facial recognition in law enforcement. After issuing a formal guidance in August asking police to use biometrics and other technologies to solve crimes, Philp has followed up with a letter to Chief Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, in which he explains that developing the use of facial recognition in fighting crime is “a high priority”. With respect to retrospective facial recognition searches, Philp says it “should be possible” to double their number by May of next year.

Digital ID Enables Remote Voting in Major Omani Elections

A digital ID app secured by biometrics has once again been used in elections in Oman. Developed by TECH5 and Dubai-based Uqudo, the “Antakhib” app verifies end users by asking them to scan their biometric ID cards using their phone’s NFC reader, and to then allow the app to scan their face in order to match it to the physical ID. The system was used to enable remote voting for municipal elections near the start of this year, and has now been used for the first time in elections for the Shura Council, one of the country’s major legislative bodies.

Google’s New API to Further Support Passkey Proliferation

Google is preparing to launch a new “Credential Manager” for Android. It’s an API for storing authentication credentials, and will offer a simple way for apps to integrate passkey support on Android 14 when it goes live on November 1. It’s the latest sign of Google’s commitment to supporting passkeys after the tech giant announced it would make passkeys the default authentication mechanism for personal Google Accounts earlier this month.

French Airport Trials ‘Biometric Experience’

Administrators at the Lyon Saint-Exupéry airport in France have been testing a biometric passenger processing system for flights to half a dozen European destinations. Transavia, Air Corsica and TAP Air Portugal have been involved in the pilot, and the airport’s operations director says that other airlines have begun to approach airport administrators about getting involved. The “Biometric Experience” requires interested travelers to use the Lyon Airport mobile app, with registration enabling access to dedicated, face-scanning screening lanes.

Thai Airline Gets Its Own ‘Smart Path’

A biometric passenger processing system has now gone live via Thailand’s Thai Vietjet airline. The system is dubbed “Smart Path”, and, like the SITA Smart Path system that has seen a growing number of deployments at various airports in recent months, it revolves around facial recognition technology; but a report from the domestic outlet The Nation describes the biometric system as having been “developed by the Airport Authority of Thailand (AOT).” The system ties a traveler’s biometric data to a digital ID token called “One ID”. It’s now being used for travelers on certain flights between Bangkok and Singapore.

iDenfy Teams With New York’s Oonee

The New York-based startup Oonee has become iDenfy’s latest customer. Oonee operates a network of smart bike lockers that can only be accessed with a mobile app or a keycard. Confirming the identities of its customers is a key concern, as is regulatory compliance. To that end, the company has implemented iDenfy’s selfie-based remote IDV solution in its onboarding process. It’s another example of the breadth of iDenfy’s customer base, after iDenfy added Beyond the Pines Productions, a video production equipment rental company, to the roster in late August.

BIO-key’s Strategic Maneuvering Nets New Customer

ALPI Portugal, a European logistics and transportation company, has become BIO-key’s latest customer, deploying the latter’s AuthControl Sentry solution to enable multi-factor and Single Sign-ON access to internal assets. The deal highlights the importance of partnerships and corporate strategy: AuthControl Sentry found its way into BIO-key’s portfolio through the company’s acquisition of Swivel Secure Europe earlier this year. And BIO-key explained in its announcement of the ALPI partnership that it came about through a collaboration with Altice Portugal, a telecommunications company and cybersecurity projects manager.

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October 30, 2023 – by Alex Perala