Whole Foods Hears Its Workers Loud and Clear: 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:

Whole Foods Reaches $300k BIPA Settlement Over Voice Recognition Lawsuit

Whole Foods has reached a $297,000 settlement in a lawsuit filed under Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit alleged that Whole Foods enrolled distribution center workers in a voice recognition system without properly obtaining consent and providing the necessary disclosures as required under BIPA. The settlement, which has received early approval from a state court judge, would see $545 paid out to each of the class action’s 330 workers.

Arkansas to Mull TikTok Ban From Government Phones

Arkansas’s legislature will go into session next week, and one of a number of bills on the table is a proposal to ban the TikTok app from all state-issued devices. The bill was proposed by Senator Gary Stubblefield, who cited the app’s data collection practices and use of biometrics as his key concerns about the app. He is not alone; late last year, the Federal Communications Commissioner called on the US government to ban the app, citing similar concerns.

US Army Asks Microsoft for AR Headset Redesign

The US Army has asked Microsoft to redesign an augmented reality headset after the initial design of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (or IVAS) made soldiers uncomfortable and, in some cases, physically ill. It isn’t yet clear when the IVAS 1.2 solution will be available, but it’s expected to maintain the integrated facial recognition and advanced features that are intended to deliver a warfighter advantage. And hopefully it won’t make anyone throw up.

Iowa Mobile ID to Feature QR Code Age Verification

The Iowa Department of Transportation has delayed the launch of a planned mobile ID app, citing the need to implement additional security measures and features. Responding to inquiries from Cedar Rapids’ The Gazette, a DoT spokesperson explained that administrators have added a QR code scanning feature that will enable retailers and other establishments to easily verify a mobile ID user’s age. The app will also feature a selfie-based onboarding process. A launch date for the app has not yet been determined.

IDPro Reports 2022 Growth

IDPro added 11 member organizations to its roster in 2022, the organizations has announced. The new members include CVS Health, Easy Dynamics, Radiant Logic, Target, AllState, Mass Mutual, Identity Fusion, Cross River, ADP, CoClo, IDENTOS and Kenoxa GmbH. Founded in 2017, IDPro describes itself as “an open, global non-profit association created to define, support and improve the digital identity profession”.

CES: Face-scanning Laptops and a Family Robot

Lenovo has unveiled a number of new laptops featuring face-based authentication systems at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The IdeaPad Slim 5i/5 AMD laptops, the Lenovo Slim 7i Carbon 13″ Intel laptop, and Yoga 6 Gen 8 is a 13″ AMD laptop all support facial recognition. Lenovo had also announced ThinkVision VoIP computer monitors featuring infrared facial recognition last month.

Enabot has unveiled a new robot designed for the family home. The EBO X is a compact, wheeled automaton that features facial recognition technology to identify family members, and is designed watch over kids and the elderly while other adults aren’t home. Its computer vision technology is designed to detect a fall, and to detect when someone has entered an area that is deemed ‘restricted’. The device is being showcased at CES 2023, where it has been named an Innovation Awards Honoree.

Jan. 6, Two Years On

Two years since the US Capitol riots, the Justice Department’s wide-ranging investigation has resulted in the arrests of more than 930 alleged participants. Facial recognition technology has played a role among the policing tools used to track down the suspects, with self-incriminating social media posts helping as well.

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January 6, 2022 – by Alex Perala

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