Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
DHS Starts Recruiting for AI Corps
The Department of Homeland Security is setting up a new “AI Corps” and is looking to recruit individuals with expertise in biometrics, among other areas. A hiring page details the positions to be filled, including roles related to enhancing border security, fighting child exploitation online, and defending against cyberthreats. AI-related skills listed in some of the job postings include those involving facial recognition, machine vision, and natural language processing. The DHS AI Corps is looking to hire 50 experts over the next year.
Microsoft Launches Selfie-Based Identity Verification Tool
Microsoft has added a selfie-based identity verification feature to its Entra Verified ID system. Built on open standards, Microsoft Entra Verified ID is designed to verify different aspects of an end user’s identity, such as their employer affiliation and educational attainments. It can also be used to confirm that an end user is who they claim to be by using facial recognition to match the user’s selfie to their driver’s license, thanks to its new Face Check feature. A number of organizations are now evaluating Face Check, which is in preview ahead of a wider rollout.
Entrust in Talks to Buy Onfido
Entrust is reportedly in talks to acquire London-based Onfido. While the talks are in an early stage, Onfido founder and former CEO Husayn Kassai has indicated that the deal is expected to result in a profit for all of Onfido’s investors, which include the likes of Salesforce’s VC arm and Oxford University. When Onfido announced the promotion of Yuelin Li to the role of Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, there was talk of aiming for an eventual IPO. Since then, the company has acquired Airside, extending Onfido’s presence into air travel thanks to the latter’s digital credential technology.
AU10TIX Announces Seven New Executive Hires
Tel Aviv-based AU10TIX has massively expanded its executive team, announcing seven new appointments. Former Pepper Global CEO Hanna Schindler is the company’s new Chief Revenue Officer. Former Voyager Labs CFO Erez Hershkovitz is now AU10TIX’s Chief Financial Officer. Amazia Keidar, former VP of Field Marketing for Cellebrite, is the new CMO. Avidan Lamdan is VP of Research and Development and Matan Shaham is VP of Product. Moshe Naftaly, who has worked with HP and Vodafone Germany, is the new VP of Delivery and Operation. And Chen Hofesh Katz has joined the team as VP of HR. “This strategic expansion underscores AU10TIX’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and continued leadership in the digital identity verification landscape,” said AU10TIX CEO Dan Yerushalmi.
New Zealander Grocery Chain Trials Facial Recognition
Foodstuffs, a New Zealand supermarket chain, is about to embark on a trial of facial recognition technology in its North Island stores, and it will be closely monitored by the country’s Privacy Commissioner. Foodstuffs is looking to demonstrate that FRT can help to lower retail crime by automatically flagging individuals who are matched to a watchlist. The retailer’s CEO, Chris Quin, says Foodstuffs staff are routinely subjected to various forms of assault, often from the same individuals who repeatedly come back to certain stores. The trial will run across 25 stores for six months.
Trustd Brings Digital ID to the Supply Chain
Trustd, a London-based startup, has launched a digital ID solution specifically designed for the supply chain space. Its “Secure Collect” system combines a QR code with biometric authentication to make sure that only authorized individuals can access specific cargo from a warehouse. It also establishes an audit trails of such transactions, further helping to eliminate fraud from the supply chain. The company’s founder and CEO, Lyall Cresswell, says the solution “harnesses advanced biometric ID technology, like liveness checks, to provide users with confidence and certainty on who’s visiting their site, picking up their load, and driving their cargo.”
Neurotechnology Announces Law Enforcement Tools
Neurotechnology has announced two new products for law enforcement that can be connected to its MegaMatcher Automated Biometric Identification System. One of them, “MegaMatcher Criminal Investigation”, features a set of tools designed to help investigators to analyze and enhance latent fingerprints. A related “MegaMatcher Criminal Identity Registration System” (or “Criminal IDRS”) is a tool enabling law enforcement officials to collect biometrics via live scans or tenprint cards, and has a “quality assessment” feature to help ensure that fingerprints are not misplaced.
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February 7, 2024 – by Alex Perala
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