Wave of Age Verification Laws Sweeps the US, Bringing Opportunity for Biometrics
(Biometric Update, Mar 25, 2024)
The United States continues to see a legislative push to make XXX adult content sites exclusive to adults through the imposition of stronger age verification measures. Major porn providers are facing millions of dollars in fines for failing to accurately verify the age of users. Biometric authentication and age estimation firms like Trust Stamp see an opportunity. But lawmakers, privacy advocates and pornographers all have their own opinions on how to solve the problem.
Biometric Ticketing Drives Stadiums’ Digital Makeover
(PYMNTS, Mar 25, 2024)
The integration of technologies such as biometric ticketing at stadium gates, AI-powered self-checkouts and strategic partnerships underscore the sports sector’s embrace of the digital age. These innovations hold the potential to enhance fan experiences, streamline operations and boost overall efficiency within stadiums. However, alongside the undeniable benefits of these advanced technologies, it’s crucial to address challenges like data privacy concerns, particularly in the case of biometric technology. Successfully navigating these hurdles will be essential to unlocking widespread adoption and ensuring that the integration of technology in sports continues to advance responsibly and ethically.
Fears Over ‘Mass Surveillance’ with Bill Changes
(Silicon, Mar 25, 2024)
The techUK-led joint statement said there were serious concerns that this would expressly permit the harvesting and processing of internet connection records for generalised, mass surveillance. The changes could also weaken safeguards around the use of bulk datasets of personal information, potentially enabling the harvesting of millions of facial images and social media data, the statement said. Other concerns include that the changes could expand the range of politicians who can authorise the surveillance of parliamentarians; could impede companies’ ability to innovate and advance the data protection, data security, and data minimisation efforts expected by users, governments and regulators globally; and could restrict the use of security-enhancing technologies, resulting in increased government intrusion into citizen confidentiality and privacy.
Efforts to Provide Digital ID for Access to Govt Services Advance
(Biometric Update, Mar 22, 2024)
As countries work to facilitate the way their citizens, both home and abroad, can access public services or complete online tasks, the provision of digital ID or its adoption constitute key concerns to be addressed. In this light, Vietnam has just issued draft rules on digital ID registration and verification for citizens including those living abroad to facilitate their access to online services. In Azerbaijan, the facial recognition function of a cloud-based digital signature application will be used to facilitate identification of individuals and legal entities. The United Arab Emirates’ digital ID (UAE Pass), authorities say, has proven vital for citizens’ access to public services, with more than 7.2 million of the IDs issued in the course of last year. In South Korea, a deal was recently concluded to ensure that citizens abroad who do not own Korean mobile devices can have seamless access to domestic digital government services using online verification, through an inter-agency initiative. Nigerians in the diaspora, meanwhile, have decried the lack of support in complying with a government directive to have their digital IDs linked with their bank profiles. They were required to have done this as of March 1.
Unified GCC Biometric Fingerprint Linkage Under Way
(Gulf News, Mar 24, 2024)
Cairo: With Kuwait going ahead with mandatory biometric fingerprinting for its citizens and expatriates, a plan is afoot among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state members to implement a unified fingerprint system, according to a Kuwaiti newspaper. Kuwait’s Interior Ministry has given a three-month deadline, which began on March 1, for mandatory biometric fingerprinting. Failing to comply will restrict access to the ministry’s services, including the renewals of residency permits (iqama) and driver’s licenses.
