Endgame On: The Narrowing Path Ahead for Privacy Legislation
(Brookings.edu, Jun 23, 2022)
After almost four years of effort and in a highly polarized political environment, any bipartisan agreement is a huge deal. That’s why the June 3, 2022 release of a bipartisan “discussion draft” from party leaders on both sides of the Congressional committees that oversee consumer protection and technology issues have galvanized the national privacy debate. It is an even bigger deal when the agreement is moving toward committee votes and markups with the potential for passage this year. To date, the promising draft includes civil rights protections proposed by key civil rights organizations limiting the use of personal information; significant limits on data collection, use, and sharing of personal information that will affect existing data practices; a private right to sue for injuries caused by privacy violations; as well as significant preemption that still preserves much state privacy law developed over more than a century. The bipartisan, bicameral proposal, called the American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA), is offered by three of the four committee leaders: Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), respectively Chair and Ranking Member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ranking Member of the Senate Science, Commerce & Transportation Committee. The proposal was received favorably at a June 14 hearing in the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, with members on both sides giving serious and collegial attention, and industry and civil society witnesses expressing concrete interest. A subcommittee markup is scheduled for Thursday, June 23.
Greenville-Spartanburg Airport Deploys CLEAR’s Biometric Security Tech
(Airport-Technology.com, Jun 23, 2022)
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina, US, has been equipped with CLEAR’s biometric identity technology. CLEAR claims that its technology reduces wait times at airport security checkpoints, as it has been designed to identify members of the CLEAR programme using their eyes or fingerprints. This eliminates the need to show their driver’s licence. Upon completion of the verification process, passengers will be escorted by a CLEAR Ambassador toward the TSA screening checkpoint through CLEAR’s expedited lanes. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport president and CEO Dave Edwards said: “GSP is always looking for ways to make the airport experience easier and more predictable. Partnering with CLEAR provides our customers expedited access to security screening at GSP and many other major airports.
Is Biometric Data Safe For Your Team?
(Forbes, Jun 23, 2022)
Biometric data has become one of the most relied-upon security tools across industries, devices and networks. Our fingerprint or face opens our phones and computers, and even our voices can be used as a unique identifier to gain access to highly secure data. It’s not difficult to see why this trend has taken off: Hackers might be able to guess a password, but they’ll have a much more difficult time stealing your thumb. This level of security can provide peace of mind for any user—so, why wouldn’t companies incorporate it? In fact, more and more companies are doing just that. Biometric data is fast becoming the go-to tool for logins, physical access to buildings and equipment and access control. It has the added benefit of minimizing the stress around too many passwords, which is an issue for users across the board. Biometric data can simultaneously be used by companies to track their employees’ hours and working habits, which can provide valuable insights to help support your team.
Instagram Wants to Use Facial Analysis to Verify Age
(Protocol, Jun 23, 2022)
Instagram is testing using facial analysis tools to verify age on the platform, Meta announced in a blog post Thursday. People will be able to verify their age on Instagram by submitting a picture of their ID card, taking a video selfie or by asking mutual followers how old they are. For the video selfies, Meta has partnered with Yoti, which analyzes facial features to verify a person's age without disclosing their identity. After the selfie is shared between the two companies, it's deleted, Meta said. "Understanding someone’s age online is a complex, industry-wide challenge," Erica Finkle, director of Data Governance at Meta, said in the post. "Many people, such as teens, don’t always have access to the forms of ID that make age verification clear and simple." The company is also expanding its AI tools to ensure that the experience is tailored appropriately. That includes preventing underage users from accessing age-restricted features like Facebook Dating or Mentorship.
Skyports and SITA Partner to Explore Biometric and Vertiport Technology
(Aviation Today, Jun 23, 2022)
UK-based vertiport developer Skyports announces plans to develop biometric and vertiport technology in partnership with SITA, an IT provider with expertise in airport technology. SITA’s Smart Path biometric solution will be integrated with Skyports’ system to create a seamless passenger experience for those traveling in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This next phase for Skyports is all about defining the experience for its end-users, explained Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, in the company’s announcement. “Advanced Air Mobility has presented an opportunity to reimagine the entire travel experience, from the vehicles we use and energy sources we rely on, right down to the way passengers book and check-in to flights,” Walker remarked. President of Europe at SITA, Sergio Colella, commented that this new partnership enables them to use existing airport technology to reimagine the passenger experience. SITA will simplify each step in the process of booking, checking in, and boarding for eVTOL flights with facial biometric technology or a mobile application.
Identity Week America, October 4 - 5, 2022
(Terrapinn, Jun 23, 2022)
IDENTITY WEEK is the most important identity event in the USA. IDENTITY WEEK is a conference and exhibition bringing together the brightest minds in the identity sector to promote innovation, new thinking, and more effective identity solutions. Key areas of focus include secure physical credentials, digital identity, and advanced authentication technologies, such as biometrics.
