Facial Recognition in Policing, COVID Screening, and Consumer Tech: 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:

MA Mulls Facial Recognition Restrictions for Cops

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering proposed legislation that would require police to get a warrant in order to perform a facial recognition search, and would prevent them from using a successful biometric match as the sole basis for an arrest. The bill has already passed the House and is now awaiting a decision from the Senate, with Governor Maura Healey in support of it. Healey also recently called on the Federal Trade Commission to consider restrictions on the commercial use of biometric technologies in an open letter.

Dutch Government Plans to Centralize Passport Data Storage

Government authorities in the Netherlands are planning to store all the data associated with citizens’ passports in a central database that the Dutch Data Protection Authority is warning will be a “goldmine for hackers”. The move would be a profound shift from the current, decentralized system that stores data like signatures, passport photos, and fingerprints in municipal databases.

Amazon Web Services Faces BIPA Lawsuit

Amazon Web Services is facing a new class action lawsuit under Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit concerns COVID-19 screening performed with Turing Shield devices, which entailed the scanning of subjects’ face biometrics using technology from Amazon. The plaintiff, a cake decorator named Sandra Trio, is asking for a jury trial.

Mitek Appoints ‘Executive Chairperson’ to Board

Mitek has named Scott Carter as its new Executive Chairperson of the Board. Carter is, by now, very familiar with the company. He served as Mitek’s Chief Marketing Officer from 2013 to 2014, and came back as a Board Advisor in December of 2020, before becoming a Board Member in March of last year. In his newly created position, Carter will “provide leadership and direction to the Board and work with the Mitek CEO, Max Carnecchia, to provide expertise with respect to the company’s strategy and future growth,” the company explained in a statement.

Trust Stamp Integrates Driver License Data Verification

Trust Stamp has integrated the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators’ Driver License Data Verification (DLDV) System into its identity verification platform, after evaluating its effectiveness in collaboration with an unnamed Fortune 500 financial institution. “Most tellers at bank branches do not have access to ID validation data as robust as the DLDV system,” said CEO Andrew Gowasack. The news comes shortly after Trust Stamp’s announcement that the USPTO had granted a Notice of Allowance for its “Privacy-First Identity Company” trademark.

Sony Cameras Feature Facial Recognition

Sony has unveiled new models in its line of PTZ web cameras that feature biometric capabilities. The SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 devices are notable for their PTZ Auto Framing technology, which is designed to automatically track certain camera angles such as waist-up or close-up, and also supports facial recognition.

Samsung OS to Spot Family Members for Photo Sharing

Samsung is preparing an operating system update for its Galaxy devices that is expected to include a biometric photo organizing feature, according to a respected tipster. The Samsung One UI 5.1 upgrade will reportedly include a facial recognition system for its ‘shared family album’ feature that will prompt the user to add a photo to a given album if it identifies someone who should probably be included in it.

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January 30, 2023 – by Alex Perala

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