Facial Recognition System At Airport Still Not Operational
(WHEC, Nov 17, 2020)
axpayers shelled out nearly $1 million for a state-of-the-art security system at the Frederick Douglass-Greater Rochester International Airport but two years after it was installed, it’s still not operational. With great fanfare, in October of 2018, the ribbon was cut on an $80 million expansion at the Rochester airport. “It is beautiful, it is on budget, it is on time,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at the time.
How To Tell The Difference Between AI And BS
(The Next Web, Nov 17, 2020)
Artificial intelligence is as important as electricity, indoor plumbing, and the internet to modern society. In short: it would be extremely difficult to live without it now. But it’s also, arguably, the most over hyped and misrepresented technology in history — and if you remove cryptocurrency from the argument there’s no debate. We’ve been told that AI can (or soon will) predict crimes, drive vehicles without a human backup, and determine the best candidate for a job.
Air Force Bases Look To Facial Recognition To Secure Entry
(Fed Scoop, Nov 17, 2020)
Two Air Force installations recently inked deals to use facial recognition technology to verify the identities of those coming on base — a move that can increase the physical distance during security checks as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The Air Force awarded TrueFace phase two Small Business Innovation Research contracts to install its technology at Eglin Air Force Base and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The company calls its system “frictionless access control,” where security personnel do not need to be present for a check, adding that it can verify a face in one to two seconds.
Facial Recognition Technology Will Hamper People’s Right To Freedom Of Expression And Privacy’
(Down To Earth, Nov 17, 2020)
Our facial features — scanned through every possible source — are being converted into a gigantic data pool. Can it be used by governments to pervade privacy and intensify mass surveillance. Down To Earth spoke to Anushka Jain of non-profit Internet Freedom Foundation, Delhi
Deep Dive: How Biometrics Help Telecommunication Companies Fight Onboarding Challenges, SIM Swap Fraud
(Pymnts, Nov 17, 2020)
Consumers’ ownership of smartphones has become all but ubiquitous in the U.S. More than three-quarters of Americans carry a smartphone, with average users checking their devices 58 times a day. This overwhelming reliance on smartphones has generated record profits for major telecommunications companies, including AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, with the industry generating $610 billion in revenue in 2019. Telecommunications companies face a number of challenges in their day-to-day operations, however. Onboarding these customers can be a tedious challenge prone to fraud and consumer frustrations, and the industry faces the ever-looming threat of SIM swap fraud. The following Deep Dive explores how robust digital identity practices can help mitigate both of these problems.
Download Your Data: What Does ‘big Brother’ Know About You?
(News 4 Jax, Nov 17, 2020)
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Reddit, Amazon, Apple, Google -- social media has connected us all in so many ways, but how much of your data does someone have? We’ve all heard the stories of companies data mining and “big brother” watching our every online move. But how many people have your information? And how do you find out? Each social media app has a way for you to request your data. For Facebook, click Settings and Privacy, then Your Facebook Information. For Google, visit takeout.google.com. For Apple, visit www.apple.com/privacy.
Bipartisan Coalition Leads Charge to Strengthen Partnerships with African Nations
(Saved by The Well, Nov 17, 2020)
Reps. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Anthony G. Brown, D-Md., Austin Scott, R-Ga., and Richard Hudson, R-N.C., have introduced the Africa Foreign Relations, International Cooperation, and Assistance Act, H.R. 8186, to enhance security and economic partnerships between the United States and African countries. The bill requires the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to submit a report on the groundwork necessary to strengthen these critical alliances and relationships. “Our security and economic relationships in Africa must foster democratic and developmental advancement,” said Rep. Panetta. “The AFRICA Act is a positive step in ensuring continued, mutual support. I am glad to lead on this legislation so that US-Africa engagement supports prosperity, democratic values, and humanitarian priorities.”
Public Citizen Delivers Robust Transition Agenda Demands to President-Elect Joe Biden
(Public Citizens, Nov 17, 2020)
Public Citizen and its partners developed a series of transition memos to guide the next administration through the country’s most pressing challenges, critical needs, and key opportunities. These documents offer a blueprint for building a political system that serves the people, rather than corporations and the super-rich. They include recommendations for key executive actions that President-elect Biden can take on day one and the first 100 days of his administration. The memos were sent to the Biden campaign staff and members of the transition team.
How Federal Agencies Can Reduce Cyber Risk Posed by Contractors
(American Security Today, Nov 17, 2020)
Federal IT professionals are making strides to address cybersecurity challenges within their agencies. However, there’s still a lot to do to solve the security risks posed by contractors, including accidental data exposure and lack of understanding of IT security policies and procedures.
Biden’s Path Forward At DHS Faces Competing Pressures
(Wall Street Journal, Nov 17, 2020)
President-elect Joe Biden will face a challenge when his administration takes charge of the Department of Homeland Security, as new leadership considers competing calls from security experts and Mr. Biden’s progressive supporters over how to steer the agency away from President Trump’s focus on curtailing immigration. Mr. Biden has said he would roll back nearly all of Mr. Trump’s immigration policies, including ending bans on travel from a number of countries and restoring federal protections for young immigrants who had been living in the country illegally. But many of the Trump-era initiatives, such as a wealth test on green-card applicants and restrictions on asylum, would take months or even years of legal work to undo.
