BT/ Intel says its new product, FakeCatcher, detects 96% of deepfakes
Biometrics biweekly vol. 52, 7th November — 21st November
TL;DR
- Intel says the tool is trained to watch for clues of authenticity in real videos. Those clues include the flush of color that washes over human skin with each heartbeat. Imperceptible to the eye, it is easy for an algorithm to see in an ordinary camera.
- Expanding its digital ID turf, Apple gets a patent putting its devices at the center of transactions
- Amazon claims to cut facial recognition bias with unlabeled data
- IriTech and partners unveil decentralized wallet with iris biometrics
- IDEMIA outperforms the competition in the latest NIST latent fingerprint benchmark test for forensic applications
- TECH5’s fingerprint and iris matching algorithms become the fastest in the world, according to the latest NIST evaluation reports
- IriTech and partners unveil decentralized wallet with iris biometrics
- Smart Engines ID document scanning and Pixsur iris biometrics integrated for World Cup
- ACM adds to its list of principles on responsible algorithmic systems
- US patent office gives GBT the high sign on its face and body biometrics invention
- Linxens takes majority stake in Sweden’s Nile to boost healthcare wearables development
- Cloud-native identity governance launched by ForgeRock to support hybrid workforces
- Startup Keyo’s palm vein biometrics ready for complete ID management applications
- Okta’s all about phishing including biometrics phishing prevention
- Yoti age estimation software embedded in gambling machines
- Freevolt, Toppan each partner on biometric access control solutions with smart cards
- The new design puts face biometrics securely behind Android phone display
- Biometric identity verification pilot launches for NSW decentralized digital ID
- Voatz surges past 100 elections with biometrics securing remote voting
- Fraud prevention platform Self launches in beta for biometric authentication in Web3
- Smart Engines updates ID document scanner, adds speed and character recognition accuracy
- Inverid launched to extend ReadID NFC ID document scanning with face biometrics
- Voatz surges past 100 elections with biometrics securing remote voting
- ROC improves liveness, tattoo recognition in facial recognition SDK update
- Tech5 unveils integration of ID R&D voice biometrics with decentralized digital ID platform
- New NADRA offices to enroll biometrics of Pakistani individuals with household changes
- Indian PM urges G-20 leaders to support digital inclusion efforts at Bali summit
- AnonCreds graduate to Hyperledger project for VCs with zero-knowledge proof
- Biometric SIM registration curbs crime in Ghana, not as effective in Nigeria
- EU says it can have a digital ID wallet by ’24 regardless of challenges
- Nigeria, Portugal plan to improve biometric passport, residence permit issuance services
- Pangea signs $70M biometric contract with Congo
- Australia fosters the growth of digital ID infrastructure: ForgeRock report
- New Zealand’s quarantine program switches on Jnctn digital ID wallet
- Fingerprint biometric scanners from Mantra coming to Myanmar border control
- Biometric payment cards from Idex to roll out in Turkey next year
- Madagascar signs with MOSIP for national digital ID pilot, plans 1k enrollments
- Cayman Islands advances on digital ID plan as cabinet okays draft bill
- 3D data, biometric ‘enjoyment detection,’ advanced touchscreens coming to cars
- Digital ID providers upgrade sales networks, solution portfolios and certifications
- Gym industry pair partner on ultrasonic contactless authentication for personalization
- Biometric smart gun maker raises $14 million and plans hiring spree
- Humanode has launched the crypto-biometric blockchain network where one human = one node = one vote that brings Sybil resistance and innovative governance models to the crypto industry using biometric technology
- Forensic voice-comparison software based on speaker recognition algorithms has outperformed all listeners in a test conducted by Aston University researchers
- Researchers from Cornell University have developed a wristband capable of tracking an entire body’s posture in 3D
- Face biometrics put to the test for security from G20 to remote credential renewals
- Berners-Lee discusses decentralized digital ID ‘pods’ at Web Summit
- Biometric industry events. And more!
Biometrics Market
The Biometric system market size is projected to grow from USD 36.6 billion in 2020 to USD 68.6 billion by 2025; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% during the forecast period. Increasing use of biometrics in consumer electronic devices for authentication and identification purposes, the growing need for surveillance and security with the heightened threat of terrorist attacks, and the surging adoption of biometric technology in automotive applications are the major factors propelling the growth of the biometric system market.
Biometric Research & Development
Latest Research:
New 3D sensors track body posture with wristband, integrate processing
Researchers from Cornell University have developed a wristband capable of tracking an entire body’s posture in 3D.
The device, called BodiTrak, relies on a deep neural network that allows a wrist-mounted camera to produce a full-body graphic of the wearer’s actions in real-time.
Spotted by Technology, the wearable solution could one day be integrated into commercial watches and phones. It was described in a research article published by the Association for Computing Machinery.
“Since smartwatches already have a camera, technology like BodiTrak could understand the user’s pose and give real-time feedback,” says the paper’s senior author, Cheng Zhang. “That’s handy, affordable and does not limit the user’s moving area.”
The deep learning model can estimate the 3D positions of 14 body joints. It was tested on nine participants performing 12 daily activities including walking.
The tool has an average error of 6.9cm (2.7 inches) using one 11.5mm by 9.5mm red-green-blue camera on a wrist pointing toward the body, reads the paper.
The model can read crude images or silhouettes of the user’s body in motion and combines them with data captured by a sensor.
“Our research shows that we don’t need our body frames to be fully within camera view for body sensing,” says Hyunchul Lim, a doctoral student and the paper’s primary author. “If we are able to capture just a part of our bodies, that is a lot of information to infer to reconstruct the full body.”
According to the study, watches do not have cameras and sufficient battery life to integrate full-body sensing.
- Blickfeld launches lidar sensor
Munich-based lidar system maker Blickfeld announced the availability of a new sensor that captures and processes 3D data on a single device.
Called Qb2, the sensor was unveiled at CES 2022 and is now available for delivery.
The integrated compute module enables the company’s Percept software stack to run on the device, providing data for volume monitoring, crowd analytics and other sensor infrastructure.
By removing the need for additional computers and bringing faster insights, Qb2 also improves response times and provides improved bandwidth availability via edge computing.
From a technical standpoint, Qb2 also offers improved functions and performance such as enhanced adaptable field of view, detection range, scan pattern and resolution.
One of the applications of lidar technology is high-performance biometrics.
Voice biometrics software outperforms humans in courtroom setting
Forensic voice-comparison software based on speaker recognition algorithms has outperformed all listeners in a test conducted by Aston University researchers.
The findings of the biometrics research, contained in a paper titled ‘Speaker identification in courtroom contexts — Part I’ were recently published in the journal Forensic Science International.
The team behind the paper pitted 226 listeners against forensic voice biometrics code — the goal: transcribing a recording in two contexts. The first was a telephone call with background office noise and the second was a recording in which a police officer interviewed a suspect in an echoey room with background ventilation noise.
Some listeners were familiar with the language and accent spoken in the recordings, some were familiar with the language but were less familiar with the accent and others were less familiar with the language.
The research also reflects different courtroom contexts. In the phone call, subjects made judgments based only on listening, and in another, they formed judgments based on listening to the recordings and considering the likelihood-ratio values by the forensic voice comparison algorithm.
According to the scientists, the software performed better than the listeners.
“Past experiences where we have successfully recognized familiar speakers, such as family members or friends, can lead us to believe that we are better at identifying unfamiliar voices than we really are,” says contributing author Kristy Martire, with the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales.
“This study shows that whatever ability a listener may have in recognizing familiar speakers, their ability to identify unfamiliar speakers is unlikely to be better than a forensic voice comparison system.”
This is important because expert testimony is only admissible in common law if it will assist the trier of fact in making a decision that they would not be able to make unaided.
“A few years ago, when I was testifying in a court case, I was asked by a lawyer why the judge couldn’t just listen to the recordings and make a decision. Wouldn’t the judge do better than the forensic voice comparison system that I had used?” says corresponding author Geoffrey Stewart Morrison, director of the Forensic Data Science Laboratory at Aston University.
Morrison says he expected the algorithm to best some subjects, “but I was surprised when it actually performed better than all of them. I’m happy that we now have such a clear answer to the question asked by the lawyer.”
The judge or jury’s speaker identification was less accurate than the forensic scientist’s forensic voice biometrics, which would argue for admitting the system’s results in court.
“Unequivocal scientific findings are that identification of unfamiliar speakers by listeners is unexpectedly difficult and much more error-prone than judges and others have appreciated,” warns contributing author Gary Edmond, a professor at the School of Law in University of New South Wales.
Main News:
A big name enters the battle against deepfake threat: Intel says its new product, FakeCatcher, detects 96 percent of deepfakes
Executives say theirs is the first detector that works in milliseconds. Ilke Demir, a senior staff research scientist in Intel Labs, designed the tool with Umur Ciftci, a research scientist at the State University of New York at Binghamton.
It is server-based hardware and software that, it is hoped, can forestall the money businesses, public figures and governments are expected to have to pay to deal with deepfakes.
FakeCatcher is long on software, of course, but the code runs on a third-generation Xeon Scalable processor running 72 detection streams simultaneously.
Intel says the tool is trained to watch for clues of authenticity in real videos. Those clues include the flush of color that washes over human skin with each heartbeat. Imperceptible for the eye, it is easy for an algorithm to see in an ordinary camera.
Spatiotemporal maps are made using the phenomenon, and deep learning code makes the call.
This is one of many strategies and tactics to neuter the deepfake threat.
Intel also applies AI to analyzing facial expressions to help teachers know how well they are getting through to students.
Expanding its digital ID turf, Apple gets patent putting its devices at center of transactions
Apple has been awarded a United States patent related to digital ID authentication using mobile devices.
The new patent (11494574 B2), spotted by Patently Apple, is for digitally authenticating identity documents, and at first glance, appears to cover many steps in proving the authenticity of documents presented.
Apple has protection for identity document authentication software and hardware. The hardware would receive and transmit a representation of a document that is being judged for legitimacy.
Businesses and other entities are exasperated by the proliferation of online fraud and are looking for any way to know with more certainty and for a reasonable cost who they are dealing with.
Physical IDs are evolving into more-sophisticated fraud-denying documents, but most of the improvements are physical, which often are useless in online dealings.
The representation would not be a copy of the document — a driver’s license, for example. It would be data about the form factor of the document that would be compared against a record of a previous representation.
That data can be how close a watermark is to the first or last name of the person needing authentication. It could also be the proximity of any personal information, which is not unique, but not common.
The software could perform facial image comparisons on the device, analyzing a driver’s license photo to a live image, and with consent, the software could update its records, periodically finding new images as a person ages.
Having evaluated the record and new representation, the device would send its verdict to the entity, a third-party service firm or issuing government agency, that requested authentication.
Devices like the iPhone also could capture images of IDs in infrared and red-green-blue light, which is authentication data that can be shared online.
Last month, Apple integrated its Wallet app with mobile driver’s licenses. IOS 16 was Apple's first customer-impacting step. And not long before that, company executives indicated that they want the brand to be ubiquitous in digital IDs.
IriTech and partners unveil decentralized wallet with iris biometrics
A trio of companies has completed a proof of concept (POC) for a decentralized ID (DID) smartphone wallet secured with iris biometrics. U.S.-founded IriTech, the South Korean Institute of Blockchain Technology (IBCT) and Integra Micro Systems, an India-headquartered software firm, says the new technology could secure personal data in Web 3.0 wallets and eliminate the risk of wallet loss or theft.
The new infrastructure lets wallets connect to chosen service providers. Should the physical device associated with the wallet be lost or stolen, its private key can be restored using IriTech’s iris biometrics.
At the same time, the companies said that the new technology is GDPR-compliant, so the iris biometric information, wallet private keys and seed phrases are not stored locally, but instead accessed via DID from various government, health and other providers.
The new wallet is also compatible with the Aadhaar ecosystem in India and can be used in the onboarding process for the digital ID.
The collaboration among the companies was first unveiled earlier this year.
Berners-Lee discusses decentralized digital ID ‘pods’ at Web Summit
The founder of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, took the stage at the Web Summit conference in Lisbon earlier this month to examine new web technologies, including his idea for the decentralized digital ID.
According to Fast Company, Berners-Lee discussed the Solid project, now being developed by his startup Inrupt. The company uses Pods (personal online data stores) to give individuals control over their own data.
Solid offers a single sign-on (SSO) feature and aims to enrich one’s digital identity as ‘your life progresses.’
While a system for decentralized storage of digital identity and other data may sound like it is intended as part of web3, Berners-Lee says it is not. The distinction hemakes is that Pods are private, in contrast with public blockchain technologies.
The technology has already been deployed in Belgium for digital economy applications and by the BBC in the UK to power its “watch party” feature.
Idemia, secunet, Tech5 achieve high scores in biometric benchmarks from NIST
Idemia has claimed it has achieved the most accurate matching algorithms for both fingerprint and palm-print datasets with accuracy 7 percent to 60 percent higher than rival algorithms in the latest NIST ELFT benchmark.
The latent fingerprint accuracy test includes both fingerprints and palm prints, testing and assessing accuracy with image only or with extra features positioned by experienced human fingerprint examiners.
According to the company’s CTO, Jean-Christophe Fondeur, the results showcase Idemia’s growing expertise in fingerprint recognition, particularly in forensic applications.
“The impressive level of performance demonstrated in this benchmark is a game changer for forensic investigation,” Fondeur comments.
The executive adds that the technology makes it easier for law enforcement and investigators to solve crimes faster.
“This is in line with our long-standing and ongoing 40-plus-year pledge to provide law enforcement agencies with the very best systems on the market,” Fondeur explains.
“All around the world, they can draw on the most accurate algorithms to carry out latent feature searches, work more efficiently in their identification tasks and make the world safer.”
The NIST ELFT results come two months after Idemia topped the 100 most accurate algorithms in fairness in NIST’s latest Face Recognition Vendor Test.
More recently, the company partnered with Singaporean payment institution StraitsX.
- Secunet achieves a crucial threshold in face morph detection
Germany-based biometrics developer secunet also announced high-accuracy results for its algorithms in the latest NIST FRVT-MORPH test.
The test assesses the accuracy of software algorithms that recognize facial morphs during automated border control scenarios.
From a technical standpoint, the secunet’s algorithm implements a differential morphing attack detection (MAD), which checks a potentially morphed facial image against a second, usually live captured and thus trusted image.
According to the company, the results from the NIST test show that the recognition of morphed images has now reached a level of performance that allows operational use in border control applications.
“Especially in the category of ‘High-Quality Morphs’, e.g., for manually generated morphs, good results were achieved,” secunet says, commenting on the news.
If set to a false positive rate of approximately 4 percent (meaning four out of every hundred facial images are misclassified as morphs and have to be manually verified), secunet’s algorithm reportedly spotted 84 percent of all morphed images.
“This presents a huge step in comparison to both human test subjects and previous algorithms.”
The NIST results come weeks after secunet revealed it deployed two registration kiosks with biometric capabilities at Prague Airport.
- Tech5 fingerprint and iris biometrics score high in NIST tests
New NIST milestones were also announced this week by Tech5, which claims its fingerprint and iris biometrics scored among the highest in NIST Proprietary Fingerprint Template (PFT) III and IREX 10 tests, respectively.
The company says that its fingerprint algorithm is 400 percent faster than the next-fastest algorithm in the report, has a 66 percent lower error rate, and requires only 50 percent of the memory resources due to a smaller template size.
As for the IREX 10 test, Tech5 says its iris matching algorithm showed the highest matching speed among all vendors participating in the evaluation.
“We are constantly investing in AI-based approaches in research for all three key biometric modalities under Tech5’s umbrella — face, fingerprint, and iris — and recent results are clearly showing the benefits,” comments the company’s CTO, Co-founder and Chairman Rahul Parthe.
“The results from the first submission of our fingerprint matching algorithm to NIST PFT III evaluation is proving our claim of AI/NN playing a pivotal role in all biometric modalities to make them robust.”
ACM adds to its list of principles on responsible algorithmic systems
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the world’s largest computing society, has released a set of nine principles to encourage accurate and fair algorithmic decision making, updating the 2017 statement. It also lists four recommendations for data processing to counter bias.
In the meantime the ACM has been outspoken in areas such as the dangers of facial recognition and its U.S. Technology Policy Committee has even pushed for a ban.
The latest set of guidelines, the ‘Statement on Principles for Responsible Algorithmic Systems,’ co-authored by the association’s Europe and U.S. Technology Policy Committees, breaks down its concerns into Legitimacy and Competency (a new area for this update); Minimizing Harm; Security and Privacy; Transparency; Interpretability and Explainability [sic]; Maintainability; Contestability and Auditability; Accountability and Responsibility; and Limiting Environmental Impacts.
The Transparency section includes the requirement for developers to document the attempts they make to detect any biases in the systems. Developers must also consider the environmental impact of their systems to “ensure that their carbon emissions are reasonable given the degree of accuracy required by the context in which they are deployed.”
Public understanding of systems is emphasized:
“Managers of algorithmic systems are encouraged to produce information regarding both the procedures that the employed algorithms follow (interpretability) and the specific decisions that they make (explainability). Explainability may be just as important as accuracy, especially in public policy contexts or any environment in which there are concerns about how algorithms could be skewed to benefit one group over another without acknowledgement.”
The recommendations for system and data processing to avoid bias are for system builders and operators to adhere to the same standards as to which humans are held in decision-making; they should undertake impact assessments in advance; audit trails must be used to achieve higher standards of transparency, accuracy and fairness (an area proving problematic at present for auditing the NYPD’s use of surveillance technologies) and those AI system developers should be held responsible for their decisions whether or not algorithmic tools are used.
Numerous biometrics providers and other institutions have established principles for responsible algorithm development and use over the past few years.
US patent office gives GBT the high sign on its face and body biometrics invention
Executives of a little-known communications company say they have been told by the U.S. government that they will get a patent for what seems to be facial recognition and body biometrics algorithms.
GBT Technologies, which lists its headquarters as in both Costa Rica and California in different internet domains, says it has gotten a notice of allowance from the patent office, which assures applicants that formal approval is on the way.
While GBT Technologies appears to write code and design products, it is hazy in its market communications about what it plans to do with the patent. In announcing the recent news, the company states it is “building an intellectual property portfolio consisting of many patents.”
The company’s “mission” reportedly is to license its intellectual property to “synergetic partners.”
But Danny Rittman, chief technology officer of the company, has been quoted saying GBT Technologies will research and develop the patented methods.
Rittman is listed as a contact on the patent news; however, the email address belongs to a domain that is not shared by the company’s sites. At least some browsers and email apps will not connect to it, citing security concerns.
Researching GBT Technologies reveals multiple similarly named entities addressing a hodgepodge of technology segments, including business process outsourcing, chip design and algorithms.
In the new patent press release, executives say that GBT Technologies and GBT Tokenize own the “pioneering” method of analyzing and recognizing images of human faces and bodies. The company previously claimed its patent for ‘Systems and methods of facial and body recognition, identification and analysis’ describes an application of real-time 3D biometric security for devices.
They claim that face biometrics used to unlock phones and identify security threats are covered by the company’s intellectual property.
Proprietary image calibration algorithms, according to the company, enrich data from points to three-dimensional biometric images. Neural networks note unique image features before mapping them into a database. Further processing can build a biometric image with depth.
GBT Technologies’ algorithms reportedly can work with partial views of a face or body and anticipate biometric changes including weight gain.
In 2021, GBT Tokenize, apparently a unit of GBT Technologies, announced that it was developing a marketing strategy for software and hardware designed to read a person’s vital signs “with a touch of a finger.”
Linxens takes majority stake in Sweden’s Nile to boost healthcare wearables development
Linxens is acquiring a majority stake in Nile, a company that makes printed electronics, NFC and wearable solutions for the medical market.
Sweden-based Nile will leverage France-headquartered Linxens’ technology and industrial footprint to manufacture smart patches and wearables, while Linxens will use Nile’s expertise and products to accelerate its healthcare innovations, according to an announcement.
New healthcare applications developed by Linxens will focus on serving patient services for chronic disease management and homecare.
Biometrics are not explicitly mentioned in the announcement, but Linxens also invested in a fingerprint biometric sensor workshop in Mantes-la-Jolie, France earlier this year.
As part of the same deal, QiXi Industrial Technology, which is partially owned by Nile, will become a fully-owned company within Nile. Detailed terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
“The world of medical care is evolving towards increased remote patient monitoring, real-life data requirements, and general connectivity,” says Yvan Malepart, SVP of global sales and marketing at Linxens. “The unique know-how of Linxens in this field, plus our expertise in large-scale production, combined with Nile’s experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and recognized capabilities in this space creates a unique new Healthcare actor. We together will contribute to moving the standards of care and developing new solutions, addressing unmet needs in multiple areas including point of care diagnostic and medical grade wearable devices.”
Malepart has also been appointed Chairman of the Board at Nile.
“With Nile’s highly advanced and technical machinery and healthcare culture, we will make our ambition a reality: enabling innovation for better health!” comments Linxens CEO Cuong H. Duong. “Together, we will become a major player in a critical industry.”
Linxens partnered with Idex Biometrics on the development and adoption of biometric smart cards this past June.
3D data, biometric ‘enjoyment detection,’ advanced touchscreens coming to cars
Automakers are dedicating more funds and cabin space to biometrics.
According to a company-submitted article in the trade publication EETimes, 3D time-of-flight (ToF) cameras are getting popular. They can be integrated within vehicles for several purposes, including access to private data, driver monitoring and advanced airbags.
ToF cameras use infrared light to create a 2D grayscale image, then, reading the distance information in every pixel, a 3D version.
ToF technologies have been used for biometric identification quite extensively, in face and fingerprint recognition applications.
The EETimes piece, written by the senior product marketing manager at Infineon, suggests that the possibilities of 3D sensing go beyond biometrics and tracking movement. The executive says sensing can also be used for occupant detection and classification, including height and weight estimations.
“ToF also offers completely new convenience use cases,” according to the article. It “can track the spine position of the passenger, offering the option to recommend a healthier seat position, to activate the massage seat or to provide fitness tips to relax the back at a pause during a long ride.”
- Abarth pilots face biometrics for ‘enjoyment detection’
Vehicle maker Abarth is testing face biometric code able to note if drivers and passengers are having fun, reports trade publication autoevolution.
The trials were done in collaboration with Loughborough University. Dale Esliger tested the technology with volunteers at the Mallory Park racetrack in the United Kingdom.
During the experiment, participants were in the passenger seat next to a professional driver driving an Abarth F595, 595 Esseesse and 595 Competizione.
According to the test results, the most prominent feeling during a hot lap was happiness, experienced by drivers (31.8 percent) and passengers (35.4 percent). Apparent emotion captured via the biometric cameras was paired with heart rate captured using a Polar H10 and an Empatica E4 sensor on their wrists.
- Geely unveils new EV brand with voice and face biometrics
A new electric vehicle model made by Zeekr with multimodal biometrics has been spotted by The Car Guide. Geely, which owns the brand, says Zeekrs will not leave China.
Zeekr released its first vehicle, a wagon called the 001, last year. The brand is unveiling a minivan, the 009. The vehicle reportedly offers an extended range of 702 or 822 km (436 to 511 miles) per charge, depending on which battery is chosen, 116kWh or 140kWh.
The minivan features at least 20 cameras or sensors and supports both face and voice recognition via a dedicated artificial intelligence assistant. The vehicle also has a 15.6-inch (40 cm) entertainment screen and a massaging captain’s chairs in the second row.
- Goodix unveils touchscreen tech with biometrics for cars
Fingerprint sensor and touchscreen hardware maker Goodix has announced it intends to get more aggressive in the auto market.
Writing in a blog post, the company unveiled a new single-chip for touchscreen created for use within vehicles.
The GA687X chip supports displays ranging from 12.3 to 27 inches (31 to 69 cm) and is designed to enable a more immersive experience.
The 250Hz chip has a minimum 10-millisecond response to minimize latency.
The component also includes Goodix’s proprietary anti-interference technology to achieve high electromagnetic magnetic compatibility performance.
The new solution comes two years after Goodix completed the Dream Chip acquisition aimed at boosting the production of integrated microprocessors for autonomous vehicles.
More recently, the company integrated some of its fingerprint biometrics sensors with Xiaomi’s flagship phones.
Humanode mainnet is live
Humanode has launched the highly-anticipated crypto-biometric blockchain network where one human = one node = one vote that brings Sybil resistance and innovative governance models to the crypto industry using biometric technology.
The Humanode network is a protocol that can prove one’s unique identity through crypto biometric authentication granting permission to launch a node and verify transactions based on collective human existence.
Built as an EVM Compatible Substrate chain. The direct biometric service allows NFT projects, DAOs, GameFi, metaverse, and other Dapps to integrate and enable unique online identities. Humanode aims to be the most distributed and democratic layer 1 public permissionless network.
The project has been backed by Republic Capital, Shima Capital, Crypto.com Capital, Tribe Capital, Wintermute, Blizzard — Avalanche Ecosystem Fund, Genblock Capital, PolkaBridge Ventures, Baryon Capital, StaFi, and more, and has an increasing number of partners, including Avalanche, Aragon, Ink Finance, Ore Protocol, AIKON, FaceTec, Subsocial, Pokt, Supraoracles, Gitcoin, Paradigm Research, Republic Crypto and Proof-of-Humanity.
With the launch of its mainnet, Humanode is able to accelerate its integration into the various partner platforms and take its first steps in offering the Web 3 community a new layer of Sybil resistance and their users with the ease of use of biometric identity solutions that are secure and private.
Digital ID providers upgrade sales network, solution portfolio and certifications
Digital ID provider Incode has unveiled a new reseller partnership, while iDenfy and SumSub have upgraded their offerings with a new solution to deliver proof of address checks and the completion of the System and Organisation Controls (SOC) 2 Type II audit, respectively.
Gym industry pair partner on ultrasonic contactless authentication for personalization
A sensor-maker and an ultrasonic authentication developer are working together to update technology used in gyms to identify and engage members.
The U.S. companies are sensor and app maker Hercs, a play on Hercules, and ultrasonic authenticator Lisnr. They have signed a partnership agreement for an integrated product portfolio that they think will be attractive to gym owners and members.
Their combined technologies can be used by gym and fitness center members to identify themselves for custom workout instructions and content delivery.
Hercs sells sensors that are put on workout equipment and apps using AI algorithms to automatically record fitness activity and predict ongoing achievements.
Lisnr makes ultrasonic proximity and contactless data transfer tools that validate a member’s arrival, payments and fulfillments. The technology outperforms biometrics, Bluetooth and others in reducing transaction friction, says Eric Allen, CEO of Lisnr.
The company’s products send and receive short bursts of data, not via radio but through ultrasonic singles through mobile device microphones and speakers.
“Compared to other wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, and RFID, (Lisnr’s ultrasonic communication) guarantees us smoother and more seamless smart-gym experience,” says Hercs CEO Marvin Li.
These Weeks’ News by Categories
Access Control:
- Biometric access control market growing with new investments, partnerships
- Jumping the gun on a new era of security-informed online consumers
- Cloud-native identity governance launched by ForgeRock to support hybrid workforces
- Consumer biometrics gain steam from gun safety to digital ID documents
- Startup Keyo’s palm vein biometrics ready for complete ID management applications
- Okta’s all about phishing including biometrics phishing prevention
- BeyondID gets Okta certification; PlainID, Ping sign up partners
- Yoti age estimation software embedded in gambling machines
- Freevolt, Toppan each partner on biometric access control solutions with smart cards
- Putting the ‘C’ in CIAM
Consumer Electronics:
- Biometric SIM registration curbs crime in Ghana, not as effective in Nigeria
- 3D data, biometric ‘enjoyment detection,’ advanced touchscreens coming to cars
- Biometric smart gun maker raises $14 million and plans hiring spree
Mobile Biometrics:
- Face biometrics put to the test for security from G20 to remote credential renewals
- Selfie biometrics rollouts keep pace as eID cautions careful KYC and AML decisions
- New design puts face biometrics securely behind Android phone’s display
- Biometric identity verification pilot launches for NSW decentralized digital ID
- Selfie biometrics boom in fintech with new implementations, partnerships
- Voatz surges past 100 elections with biometrics securing remote voting
- Digital ID providers upgrade sales network, solution portfolio and certifications
- Prepare for digital identity wallets while there is still time, SIA advises
- Smart Engines ID document scanning and Pixsur iris biometrics integrated for World Cup
- Expanding its digital ID turf, Apple gets patent putting its devices at center of transactions
- Partners integrate Yoti, OCR Labs, IDnow selfie biometrics for compliant checks, onboarding
- Incode partners with Hoteza to bring biometrics to self check-in platform
- Gym industry pair partner on ultrasonic contactless authentication for personalization
- Fraud prevention platform Self launches in beta for biometric authentication in Web3
- Health care digital ID manager integrates with portal maker
- Smart Engines updates ID document scanner, adds speed and character recognition accuracy
- Inverid launched to extend ReadID NFC ID document scanning with face biometrics
Financial Services:
- Selfie biometrics rollouts keep pace as eID cautions careful KYC and AML decisions
- Privacy-preserving biometrics for strong ID proofing possible, Mobai researcher contends
- Selfie biometrics boom in fintech with new implementations, partnerships
- ID.me attempts pivot to champion of the unbanked
- Crypto thefts explode; report says users will tolerate ID verification friction to stop it
- Biometric payment cards from Idex to roll out in Turkey next year
- Partners integrate Yoti, OCR Labs, IDnow selfie biometrics for compliant checks, onboarding
- New NADRA offices to enroll biometrics of Pakistani individuals with household changes
- Defrag KYC landscape to prevent fraud, reputational damage, American Bankers Association says
Civil / National ID:
- Sweden’s digital ID infrastructure should be centralized: DN Debate
- Indian PM urges G-20 leaders to support digital inclusion efforts at Bali summit
- NADRA partners up to ID thousands of deceased people with biometrics
- Biometric identity verification pilot launches for NSW decentralized digital ID
- Children’s digital identities are easier to defraud, harder to fix
- AnonCreds graduate to Hyperledger project for VCs with zero-knowledge proof
- Biometric SIM registration curbs crime in Ghana, not as effective in Nigeria
- Smart Engines algorithm update improves speed and accuracy scanning ID documents’
- Many UK convenience stores not checking ID for age-restricted products
- EU says it can have a digital ID wallet by ’24 regardless of challenges
- Nigeria, Portugal plan to improve biometric passport, residence permit issuance services
- New Digital IDs roll out as established program report encouraging adoption trends
- Prepare for digital identity wallets while there is still time, SIA advises
- Global recognition of EU trust services for digital ID slowly moves forward
- Madagascar signs with MOSIP for national digital ID pilot, plans 1k enrollments
- Covid response tech leaves Indians more exposed to data collection: briefing
- UK Labour Party brings back ID card concept to reduce irregular immigration
- India’s digital ID experience could boost Africa’s development drive: report
- Groups and motivations advocating for digital identity principles put under the microscope
- Smart Engines updates ID document scanner, adds speed and character recognition accuracy
- Nigeria ID4D seeks privacy consultant for national ID management infrastructure
- Cayman Islands advances on digital ID plan as cabinet okays draft bill
Government Services & Elections:
- Voatz surges past 100 elections with biometrics securing remote voting
- Political violence in Nigeria destroys biometric voter IDs; government rushing replacements
- Biometrics for voter ID adopted by Albania, considered by Guyana
- ID.me’s travails are a problem for the biometrics industry
- Sweden’s digital ID infrastructure should be centralized: DN Debate
- Pangea signs $70M biometric contract with Congo
- Australia fosters the growth of digital ID infrastructure: ForgeRock report
- New Zealand’s quarantine program switches on Jnctn digital ID wallet
- NADRA chair emphasizes importance of achieving SDG 16.9 for Pakistan’s digital future
- EU says it can have a digital ID wallet by ’24 regardless of challenges
- Civil society groups in Liberia urge transparency in selection of biometric kits supplier
- Biometrics for voter ID adopted by Albania, considered by Guyana
- Nigeria ID4D seeks privacy consultant for national ID management infrastructure
Facial Recognition:
- Face biometrics put to the test for security from G20 to remote credential renewals
- ID.me’s travails are a problem for the biometrics industry
- Seed and angel funders invest in Mexican face biometrics anti-fraud vendor
- Facial recognition advances spurring new use cases, improvements in IFPC 2022 spotlight
- G20 security system’s facial recognition technology in Bali supplied by Asli and Innovatrics
- Facial recognition research community going beyond the algorithm to improve accuracy
- New design puts face biometrics securely behind Android phone’s display
- Privacy preserving biometrics for strong ID proofing possible, Mobai researcher contends
- Airline partnerships with Clear, Regula for biometric apps revealed
- Amazon claims to cut facial recognition bias with unlabeled data
- Italy to limit face biometrics systems use nationwide to police
- Australian state poised for facial recognition to tackle problem gambling draws criticism
- Student data privacy compromised in UK, at risk in US
- ROC improves liveness, tattoo recognition in facial recognition SDK update
- Consumer biometrics gain steam from gun safety to digital ID documents
- Facial recognition in surveillance keeps growing, but so do doubts
- Airport biometrics get an A from travelers, CBP gets an award and rollouts continue
- Newest leak of EU’s AI Act doesn’t satisfy naysayers on biometric surveillance
- Innovatrics, Tech5, ID R&D and EdgeIR insiders to discuss edge biometrics in webinar
- US patent office gives GBT the high sign on its face and body biometrics invention
- Incode partners with Hoteza to bring biometrics to self check-in platform
- Complaint filed against PimEyes in UK as facial recognition web search options grow
- RecFaces, Alcatraz each expanding presence to reach international face biometrics markets
- Plans for biometric surveillance reach epic scales with off-putting implications
- Think tank calls for privacy safeguards on use of facial recognition systems in India
Fingerprint Recognition:
- Idex books $2M order of fingerprint sensors for Idemia biometric payment cards
- Fingerprint biometric scanners from Mantra coming to Myanmar border control
- Amazon claims to cut facial recognition bias with unlabeled data
- UK deploys fingerprint, face biometrics to track deportees, non-Irish EU citizens
- Mexican feds can’t mandate biometric SIM registration. Can telcos entice consumers?
- Biometric payment cards from Idex to roll out in Turkey next year
- Freevolt, Toppan each partner on biometric access control solutions with smart cards
- Idex and UK issuer plan biometric payment card rollout for early 2023
- Biometric authentication tokens from OneSpan to secure cloud transactions unveiled
- Idemia NA fingerprint biometrics contract for US immigration extended, upgrade coming
Iris / Eye Recognition:
- IriTech and partners unveil decentralized wallet with iris biometrics
- Smart Engines ID document scanning and Pixsur iris biometrics integrated for World Cup
Voice Biometrics:
- Tech5 unveils integration of ID R&D voice biometrics with decentralized digital ID platform
- Authentication is the cloud marring metaverse’s future. Who’s addressing it?
- ID R&D, OneVault partnerships power new voice biometrics ‘as-a-service’ from iPulse
- Voice biometrics software outperforms humans in courtroom setting
Liveness Detection:
- Tech5 unveils integration of ID R&D voice biometrics with decentralized digital ID platform
- ID R&D, OneVault partnerships power new voice biometrics ‘as-a-service’ from iPulse
- ROC improves liveness, tattoo recognition in facial recognition SDK update
Biometrics Industry Events
Next-Generation Cards 2022: Nov 16, 2022 — Nov 17, 2022
Digital Trust World 2022: Nov 21, 2022
The Cyber Security Financial Services Summit: Nov 22, 2022
6th Border Management and Identity Conference (6th BMIC): Dec 7, 2022 — Dec 9, 2022
Aviation Festival Asia 2023: Feb 28, 2023 — Mar 1, 2023
Digital Onboarding Forum: Apr 12, 2023 — Apr 13, 2023
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