Comparitech has released a comprehensive report that evaluates the pervasiveness of biometric technology in 50 different countries. The report rated the countries based on their use (or non-use) of various technologies, as well as the legal protections those countries put in place to protect the privacy of their citizens. Each country was assigned a numerical…
The government of China has formally implemented a new rule that makes a facial recognition scan a required part of the mobile registration process. Anyone hoping to sign up for mobile phone services will now need to undergo a scan, expanding on the previous system that only asked customers to provide an identity card. The…
China’s air travel industry is investing heavily in AI technology. According to SITA’s latest 2019 China IT Insights report, 88 percent of the country’s airlines and airports plan to have some form of AI program in the development or deployment phase by 2022, with a heavy focus on chatbots and virtual assistants. Roughly half (43…
The Savelovsky court of Moscow has ruled against the notion that the use of facial recognition cameras is in violation of the Russian Constitution with regards to the collection of personal data and an individual’s rights to privacy. In a case brought forward by plaintiff Alena Popova the courts declared that her arrest in 2018…
China has begun testing surveillance technology in its northwestern Xinjiang region that aims to predict an individuals’ behavior by reading their emotional state. The technology uses cameras to scan people’s faces and ‘read’ their facial expressions in order to “identify criminal suspects by analyzing their mental state… to prevent illegal acts including terrorism and smuggling,”…
In what many domestic news outlets are describing as a first, a Chinese citizen is suing a theme park over its use of biometric technology on attendees. The park in question is a safari park in Hangzhou, which previously linked park passes to the fingerprints of pass holders, but recently moved to a new system…
Hong Kong police have access to facial recognition technology, but it isn’t clear if they have deployed it in their response to ongoing public protests, reports the South China Morning Post. Citing anonymous individuals who are familiar with the matter, the report says that Hong Kong’s police force has been contracting facial recognition technology from…
Having recently launched its new TruFace facial recognition solution, Aratek is now looking to target the growing Chinese market for such biometric technology with plans to showcase its solutions at the CPSE 2019 security expo. The event is scheduled to run from October 28th to 31st in Shenzhen. “China’s rapid and continuous growth drives innovation…
Biometrics News – Facial Recognition Tourists and locals visiting Shamian Island in Gaungzhou China may want to learn how to say ‘I can’t spare a square’ in as many languages as possible, as toilet paper dispensers using facial recognition have been implemented at the popular tourist destination. The dispensers are designed to remove two feet…
Biometrics News – Facial Recognition Taiwanese Economic Minister Sheng Jong-chin has ordered an investigation into Chinese company Megvii Technology following its inclusion in a list of 28 Chinese entities that were blacklisted by the US government. The investigation follows concerns surrounding Megvii’s recently acquired contract to provide a facial recognition security system at Taichung Power…
“The blacklisting does not prevent companies from purchasing Megvii’s products and services, but it does prevent companies from selling to Megvii, which means that Megvii has been unable to buy things like Nvidia processors used in its business.” China-based facial recognition specialist Megvii is preparing to push ahead with a planned IPO on the Hong…
China’s extensive biometric surveillance apparatus is poised to expand even further through the efforts of a major cell tower company: China Tower has established a new subsidiary called Smart Tower that is aimed at offering video surveillance services. As Light Reading reports, China Tower is jointly owned by China’s three major telecoms, and has 1.9…
“… at least one of the researchers involved in the project has highlighted its potential use for police in monitoring crowds…” Chinese researchers have developed a 500MP camera system able to capture detailed images of tens of thousands of faces in a single frame, according to a new report. The system was developed by researchers…
Remark Holdings subsidiary KanKan AI has outfitted the Hangzhou Primary School System with a Smart Campus Solution with facial recognition capabilities. The surveillance platform was built to meet the 2019 Work Focus Mandate from the Chinese Ministry of Education, a piece of legislation that seeks to improve school security and student performance with AI technology.…
Apple is reportedly planning to release a new version of the iPhone designed specifically for the Chinese market. The new phone would ditch Face ID in favor of an under-the-display fingerprint sensor, largely in an effort to cut costs and remain competitive during the ongoing trade war between the US and China. The move would…
“I’m more confident than ever that biometric smart cards are poised for mass adoption.” – Stan Swearingen, CEO, IDEX Biometrics IDEX Biometrics announced today that biometric payment cards featuring its SmartFinger sensor technology have begun a certification process on behalf of a “major global payment scheme in Asia.” The Bank Card Testing Center, an independent…
Hong Kong-based AI specialist Megvii has raised $750 million through its latest funding round, the company has announced. The news comes after Megvii raised $600 million in an investment round last year, and amid speculation that the company is planning an IPO. It’s now valued at a little over $4 billion. The announcement also comes…
“…Microsoft has stated that it is not involved in a partnership with SenseNets, and that it has asked the company to remove the Microsoft logo from its website as it had been used without permission.” Microsoft is denying that its technology is being used in an intrusive and controversial Chinese surveillance program after being implicated…
Shenzen Metro is trialing a new ticketing system that would allow passengers to pay their fare and board the subway with only a facial recognition scan. The system is built with 5G and AI technology from Huawei, and the trial is currently underway at the city’s Futian station. As South China Morning Post reports, participants…