Will the EU Really Ban Live Facial Recognition in Public? – 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:

DHS Seeks ‘Requirements Management Tool’ for OBIM

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a Request for Information concerning a ‘requirements management tool’ for the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM). The notice explains that the tool would support an ongoing, OBIM-wide effort to better manage the various “uncoordinated tools” that are in place; this effort is referred to as the “Requirements Development and Management Process (RDMP)”, and is on track for implementation in Q1 of the 2024 fiscal year. Interested parties have until May 19 to respond to the RFI.

EU Lawmakers Green Light Live Facial Recognition Ban

Members of European Parliament voted to approve legislation that would ban the use of facial recognition in public spaces this morning. They also approved measures to ban predictive policing tools and to require certain transparency measures for generative AI tools. The draft AI laws will now proceed to a plenary vote in June, which will be followed by final “trilogue” negotiations to hammer out finalize all the details. If and when the AI rules officially become law, there will be a two-year grace period to allow for compliance.

Singapore Plans In-Car Border Screening

Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is planning to let travelers arriving from neighboring Malaysia to enter the country with an in-car QR code and face scan. They will begin implementing the system in early 2024, with interested travelers asked to create a profile in the MyICA mobile app in order to participate. Once an eligible traveler has uploaded their passport of SingPass digital ID information to the app, they will be able to use it to present a QR code at a border checkpoint, which will prompt a face scan for identity verification, all without the need to leave their car. The news comes alongside this week’s announcement that IDEMIA had been selected to provide automated border screening solutions for all of Singapore’s air, land, and sea crossings.

ThreatFabric Raises €11.5M in Seed Round

ThreatFabric, an Amsterdam-based anti-fraud firm focused on the financial services sector, has raised €11.5 million in a seed funding round led by ABN AMRO Ventures and Motive Ventures, and featuring 10xFounders and 14Peaks capital. ThreatFabric says that much of the investment will be used to “extend” the “behavior-based location intelligence and behavioral biometrics” of its Fraud Risk Suite, adding that the latter technology includes the assessment of user behaviors based on mobile sensors and keystrokes.

Thales Wins 10-Year Passport Cover Contract

Thales has won a 10-year contract from the US Government Publishing Office to produce the country’s next-generation e-passport covers, which contain electronic security components including the passport holder’s biometric data and digital signature. “Providing citizens, businesses and governments with stronger identity document security is a key mission at Thales,” said the firm’s EVP of Identity and Biometric Solutions in North America, Tony Lo. Thales has already delivered over 127 million e-passport covers to the US since 2005.

Whoop Gets Into Mountain Bike Racing

The UCI Mountain Bike World Series has partnered with Whoop to use the company’s eponymous biometric wristband in the upcoming mountain bike racing season. Biometric data from racers’ Whoop devices will be shared during broadcasts and will be discussed in post-race analyses. Whoop has sought to establish a presence in the world of professional sports, but has also ranged into areas including academic and military research, and the treatment of addiction.

CloudCycles Becomes Zerify Reseller

CloudCycles, a Long Island-based provider of cloud-focused security solutions, has agreed to become a reseller of Zerify’s flagship solutions, Zerify Meet and Zerify Defender. The latter is Zerify’s cybersecurity platform, while Zerify Meet is a secure video conferencing solution that supports biometric authentication. It was recently adopted by Annie Damato & Associates, a financial consulting agency based in New Jersey.

IDEX Gets Another Turkish Partner

IDEX Biometrics has established a partnership with another Turkey-based firm, with the unnamed card issuer agreeing to promote IDEX’s fingerprint-scanning payment cards starting in the third quarter of this year. IDEX had previously established a biometric smart cards partnership with Turkey-based Enqura Information Technology last fall, and has previously announced partnerships with two Turkish banks. Its latest Turkish partner was described as an “innovative issuer focused on premium financial products”.

Aussies Earmark $26.9M for Digital ID

The Australian government has set aside $26.9 million for the further development of a planned Digital ID system, as detailed in the new 2023 federal budget. It has also committed $134.5 million to the existing myGov platform for digital access to government services, framed as funding to ensure the platform’s stability while officials consider its future. Parliament is expected to see legislation concerning the Digital ID effort introduced in the second half of this year.

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May 11, 2023 – by Alex Perala