Identity News Digest – August 9, 2024

Welcome to FindBiometrics’ digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:

Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium Implements Biometric Security

Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium, home to Adelaide United, has introduced facial recognition technology, making it the third venue in Australia to do so, following Melbourne’s AAMI Park and Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. The implementation follows a $53 million upgrade for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, enhancing security and enabling the identification of persons of interest. Adelaide Venue Management (AVM) has updated entry conditions and signage to emphasize safety. The technology debuted during the A-League Pride Cup match between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory. Adelaide United CEO Nathan Kosmina expressed support for the enhanced security measures, highlighting their commitment to providing a safe, family-friendly environment. This initiative aligns with a global trend of integrating facial recognition in sports venues, as seen with Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium’s “MLB Go-Ahead Entry” system, which expedites access by allowing fans to use facial recognition instead of showing tickets.

Biometric Airport e-Gates Land in Oman

Oman Airports has launched a new e-gate system at Muscat International Airport as part of Oman Vision 2040, aimed at enhancing electronic transformation. The e-gates use biometric verification, including facial recognition and fingerprint matching, to expedite passport verification for both departing and arriving passengers. Initially, six e-gates are available for departures and twelve for arrivals, with the capacity to process over 1,000 passengers per hour in departures and 24,000 daily in arrivals. Future expansions are planned to accommodate increasing passenger numbers. Sheikh Ayman bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports, highlighted the system’s ability to minimize human intervention and ensure smooth passenger flow. This initiative aligns with global trends in airport biometrics, as seen with recent implementations at Singapore’s Changi Airport and South Africa’s King Shaka International Airport, although the latter faced challenges with its new biometric system, leading to delays.

UK Biometrics and Surveillance Commissioner Resigns

Tony Eastaugh, the United Kingdom’s Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, has abruptly announced his resignation, adding further uncertainty to the country’s regulatory landscape for police biometrics. Eastaugh, who had a short tenure after being appointed in December 2023, was expected to oversee the closure of the Commissioner’s office. This follows the collapse of the “Data Protection and Digital Information Bill,” which proposed abolishing the office and merging its functions into other roles. The bill was abandoned after a surprise election interrupted Parliamentary business, leaving the future of the office unclear. Eastaugh’s resignation comes without explanation, but it suggests his decision not to await the office’s potential closure. His predecessor, Fraser Sampson, criticized the government’s efforts to dismantle biometrics and AI safeguards. Meanwhile, the use of biometric technologies by UK police continues to escalate, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently advocating for expanded use of facial recognition in response to civil unrest.

Fingerprints Appoints New Chief Strategy and Technology Officer

Swedish biometrics firm Fingerprint Cards (FPC) has appointed David Eastaugh as its new Chief Strategy and Technology Officer (CSTO), effective August 19, 2024. With over 25 years of experience in identity, data, and financial crime prevention, Eastaugh previously served as Senior Director of Software Engineering at LexisNexis Risk Solutions and as CTO at UK regtech TruNarrative. His role at FPC will be crucial as the company seeks to diversify into digital identity, moving beyond its established reputation in mobile biometrics and capacitive fingerprint sensors. FPC President and CEO Adam Philpott emphasized the company’s strategy to replace passwords with biometric authentication, enhancing cybersecurity and user experience across applications such as access control and secure online transactions. This appointment comes as FPC recently secured a $1 million order for FIDO solutions and launched a collaboration with IN Groupe to develop secure, contactless biometric payment cards.

Wisconsin School District Implements Facial Recognition for Visitor Screening

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) in Wisconsin is implementing facial recognition software, Visitor Aware, at school entrances to enhance security by identifying visitors and cross-referencing their identities with government watchlists, sex offender registries, and other legal databases. Developed by Madison-based Singlewire Software, the system aims to increase safety and maintain a headcount during emergencies. The initiative, funded by a federal grant with a $177,000 commitment over three years, replaces traditional sign-in sheets and allows families to pre-register. While this technology enhances security, its use in schools has sparked controversy. For instance, Chelmer Valley High School in Essex, U.K., was reprimanded by the Information Commissioner’s Office for using facial recognition without proper opt-in consent, highlighting the ongoing debate over biometric technology in educational settings.

Proton Pass Adds Biometric Authentication Features

Proton Pass, the password manager by the creators of Proton VPN, has introduced new features on its first anniversary, including biometric authentication for Windows and MacOS apps, available in select subscription plans. The new updates allow users to unlock Proton Pass using facial recognition or fingerprint scanning through Windows Hello and Touch ID, enhancing both security and convenience. Additionally, Proton Pass now supports the storage and autofill of detailed personal information, such as names, addresses, social security numbers, and passport numbers, streamlining form completion and reducing errors. This new feature aims to boost productivity by saving time on everyday digital tasks. Proton Pass joins other password managers, like NordPass and iOS’s built-in manager, in offering biometric security. The biometric authentication feature is available for users on the Pass Plus plan or higher, with plans starting at $23.88 per year or $4.99 per month.

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August 9, 2024 — by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala