Utah’s Social Media Act Catches Fire – 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:

Cops Can’t Just Retain Criminals’ Data Until Death: ECJ

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the systematic storage of the biometric and genetic data of convicted criminals until their death is a violation of European Union law. The ruling came in response to a case from Bulgaria, in which a man who was convicted of being a dishonest witness sought to have his biometric records expunged from police databases after serving a one-year suspended sentence. The ECJ ruled that storing someone’s data until death “is appropriate only in specific circumstances which duly justify it,” and said that data storage must be periodically reviewed.

Utah Backs Down on Social Media ID Requirement

Utah legislators are backing down on plans to implement legislation that would restrict minors’ access to social media platforms. The legislation would have required identity verification for users, with face biometrics having been proposed as a solution. But civil rights groups concerned about free speech, including NetChoice and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, sued state authorities, arguing that the legislation is unconstitutional. The law was scheduled to take effect in March, but lawmakers recently voted to postpone it until October 1, 2024, and said in a court filing that the Utah Legislature “is likely to repeal and replace the law during the current legislative session.”

Nigerian State Mandates Biometric Attendance for Local Leaders

The Governor of the Nigerian state of Borno has directed newly elected local council chairs to use a biometric time and attendance system. Governor Babagana Zulum told the Ministry for Local Government that it must immediately deploy biometric machines to facilitate the requirement. Council chairs will be required to biometrically clock in four times a day, at 8:00 a.m., noon, 2:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Hyundai Subsidiary Faces BIPA Lawsuit

Hyundai Transys, a subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group, is now facing a class action lawsuit over its alleged violation of Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. The lawsuit concerns Hyundai Transys Georgia Seating System LLC, its affiliated manufacturing facility, which used a biometric time and attendance tracking system for employees, and allegedly failed to obtain their written consent and to provide disclosures about data retention, as required under BIPA.

CyberLink Extends Partnership with UnionCommunity

Taiwan-based CyberLink has announced an expanded partnership with UnionCommunity, a Korean biometrics firm specializing in biometric solutions for access control, time and attendance, and integrated security management. UnionCommunity had already previously integrated CyberLink’s FaceMe solution into its UBio-X Face Premium access control terminal; now, the companies are bringing FaceMe to UnionCommunity’s Ubio-ezPass, a logical access control solution that has already been implemented by “a major South Korean financial institution”, the companies say.

Privakey Launches Enterprise-Focused SSO Solution

Philadelphia-based Privakey has announced a new Single Sign-On solution that tailors the passkey approach to authentication specifically for enterprise deployments. Privakey SSO leverages the biometric authentication capabilities, PIN, and passkey codes of an end user’s device, but can be used not only for authentication but also for authorization to access certain assets. The solution is also designed for integration into existing enterprise authentication systems such as those offered by Microsoft, Google, and Okta.

Regula Announces ID Testing Service

Regula has launched a new testing service for identity verification systems that need to be able to read identity documents with embedded NFC chips. The Regula NFC TestKit comprises a set of NFC-enabled IDs populated with fictitious identities. “With our new service for complete imitation of real IDs, we enable organizations to conduct highly efficient testing to identify and prevent any potential issues prior to the launch of their IDV systems,” explained Regula’s Chief Technology Officer, Ihar Kliashchou.

IDScan App Can Now Read Apple Mobile IDs

IDScan.net has announced that its ID-scanning app is now compatible with Apple’s mobile IDs, meaning that businesses using the VeriScan iOS app for age and identity verification can now use the app to verify the digital credentials stored in Apple’s new identity app. Apple’s mobile ID, which is designed to serve as an official digital driver’s license or state ID, is currently available in four states: Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, and Georgia.

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January 30, 2024 – by Alex Perala