With the year coming to a close, the annual FindBiometrics Year in Review survey has just opened. It has been an eventful year in the biometrics industry (but then again, what year in recent memory hasn’t?), and looking back, there’s a lot to take in. But one particularly interesting question that this year’s survey should…
US Customs and Border Protection plans to further extend biometric screening to US citizens. The border agency has published a request for a rule change that would make this practice mandatory not only for foreign nationals but for Americans as well, as part of a larger biometric entry-exit system. Such biometric screening will most likely…
“…IDEMIA suggested that the biometric national ID cards ‘will accelerate rollout of Morocco’s online services and will ramp up development of the digital economy.’” IDEMIA has won a contract to provide the Moroccan government with new biometric ID cards for citizens. The deal was signed with the country’s Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale, or…
US Customs and Border Protection has further expanded its use of biometric border control technology on land, announcing that facial recognition systems are now in place at three of the 14 pedestrian lanes at the Paso del Norte checkpoint in El Paso. The facial recognition system will be used to process those entering the US,…
Of all the biometric modalities, facial recognition has become one of the most widely used and discussed in recent years. That’s why November is Face Biometrics Month at FindBiometrics, in which we’ll be delivering in-depth articles and other special features dedicated to this technology. It’s a broad category though, with facial recognition deployed across a…
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is deploying facial recognition technology to streamline screening procedures at the Laredo Port of Entry. The organization will install cameras at three pedestrian lanes sometime in early November, and plans to expand the program to the remaining 19 pedestrian lanes during the week of December 2. The facial matching…
The Trump administration has proposed a new rule allowing US border authorities to collect DNA samples from any immigrant “detained under the authority of the United States”. This information would be shared with the FBI for inclusion in a larger criminal database. While border officials are already allowed to perform rapid DNA testing to help…
SITA has won a contract to expand its services at Kotoka International Airport in Ghana. The company’s new contract with Ghana Airports Company Limited will see SITA managing all airport passenger processing and baggage management in Terminal 3 over the next five years. SITA already began deploying its systems to the airport a year ago,…
The United States ranks just as poorly as the worst European Union members when it comes to privacy laws and government surveillance, according to a new analysis from Comparitech. Conducted by privacy advocate and tech journalist Paul Bischoff, the analysis scores various countries out of five, with 4.1-5 indicating that a country ‘upholds privacy standards…
“The market research firm has been ahead of the curve in assessing the booming airport and border biometrics markets with previous reports and analysis.” Acuity Market Intelligence has published new updates to its Automated Border Control (ABC) eGate and Automated Passport Control (APC) Kiosk Deployment Lists. The market research firm has been ahead of the…
The European Union’s border control agency has announced plans to trial biometric passenger screening at the Lisbon Airport, signalling what may become the next major phase in European border control. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency – also known as Frontex – has dubbed its new system “Biometrics on the Move”. It’s designed to…
IDEMIA has renewed its border partnership with the Australian Department of Home Affairs. According to the terms of the new contract, IDEMIA will continue to provide the Australian Border Agency with biometric SmartGates for the next five years, helping to ensure that Australia remains at the forefront of the border security conversation. The SmartGate portfolio…
WorldReach has deployed Cognitec’s secure facial recognition tech in a smartphone app that automates the ID application process. The app asks users to take a selfie when applying for a passport or a visa, or when they’re enrolling in some kind of digital service. After that, Cognitec’s facial recognition algorithm will match the photo against…
With September coming to a close, it’s time to take a look back at some of FindBiometrics’ featured coverage of Government Biometrics Month. The government sector is one of the most important components of the broader biometrics industry – indeed, it’s a driving force – so it’s always well worth taking a look at some…
“The CBP’s system is designed to biometrically match the faces of these travelers against the images in their travel documents, allowing the agency to verify their identities quickly and reliably.” US Customs and Border Protection has expanded its use of facial recognition technology to another major US airport, announcing that its now being used to…
IDEMIA is intensifying its efforts to target the APAC and Australian markets for biometric airport and border control solutions, the company has announced. In a statement, IDEMIA did not put attach a monetary figure to its enhanced efforts, but indicated that it “is expanding its investment in its people in Canberra and Sydney.” The company…
Earlier this year, Emirates Airlines enabled biometric boarding for passengers going to Dubai from Dallas, New York, and Los Angeles. Now the airline is doing the same for people headed in the other direction. Emirates has officially become the first airline outside of the US to receive Customs and Border Protection (CBP) permission to provide…
When it comes to the government biometrics market, one growth area that’s impossible to ignore right now is biometric border control. It is simply exploding around the world, partly as a result of many governments’ increased focus on border security, and partly because of advancements in biometric technologies like facial recognition. Face-Scanning Achieves Liftoff In…
“While the initial trials of Panasonic’s biometric eGates were aimed at Japanese citizens, the company says that 123 of the 203 units that will be in operation thanks to this latest order will be used to process foreign nationals.” The Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s Ministry of Justice is expanding the use of biometric eGates…