BT/ Samsung wins patent for fingerprint sensor package and biometric cards

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Paradigm

27 min readJun 3, 2024

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Biometrics biweekly vol. 81, 20th May — 3rd June

TL;DR

Samsung has been granted a patent for an integrated circuit (IC) for fingerprint reading, storage and processing and biometric cards that can be implemented in
Google Pay enhances online checkout with biometric options and expands BNPL features
Mastercard aims to deliver digital identity, and access for 100M in Africa
Interpol issues call for biometrics firm to provide mobile data collection devices
Face ID component maker's plant could close as Apple ends orders
FIDO Alliance launches comprehensive selfie biometric IDV certification program
Ford patents a face-based vehicle entry system
The IOTA digital identity method gets support from the Decentralized ID Universal Resolver
Biometric age estimation graduates with high marks from NIST, ACCS
Nametag patents method for solving user lockouts during MFA resets
MOSIP launches QR code spec for interoperable offline biometrics, ID authentication
Strata Identity launches uninterrupted identity services product
ID R&D patents voice biometrics and spoof detection to protect smart devices
BSI offers a code of practice for ethical facial recognition use
Idemia’s mIDReader, Verify SDK achieve ISO certification for mobile ID verification
Zwipe partners to launch biometric access cards in 4 European countries
Precise Biometrics upgrades fingerprint spoof and liveness detection software
Klick Labs develops deepfake detection method focusing on vocal biomarkers
ID R&D patents voice biometrics and spoof detection to protect smart devices
Pindrop claims up to 99% accuracy in detecting synthetic voice fraud plaguing call centers
Zighra behavioral biometrics contracted for Canadian government cybersecurity testing
Humane AI is reportedly looking for a buyer for its biometric wearable business
Sumsub puts numbers to deepfakes preceding elections; govts take action
Russian opposition develops ZKP voting application to support legitimate elections
3-week biometric voter registration in Ghana amid opposition hullabaloo
Japan faces uptick in forged ‘My Number’ ID cards amid system errors
2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will feature NEC biometric payment and access technology
Singapore plans expansion of biometric airport lanes to more travelers, airports
Philippines shows quick mDL deployment is possible, while States creep forward
Worldcoin ordered to stop operating in Hong Kong
Footprint makes a mark on the ID verification market with $13M series A round
Researchers navigate facial recognition algorithm training with synthetic data
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:

Researchers navigate facial recognition algorithm training with synthetic data

A new paper authored by a team from the Biometrics Security and Privacy group at the Idiap Research Institute explores “synthetic face dataset generation for responsible face recognition,” according to a LinkedIn post from Professor Sébastien Marcel, a senior researcher at Idiap.

The paper argues that facial recognition (FR) models trained on large-scale datasets come with privacy and ethical concerns, not to mention time constraints.

“While data collection campaigns performed in laboratories can be made representative of the general demographics and performed with subjects’ consents, they are typically quite limited due to the large amount of effort they require,” it says. “Lately, the use of synthetic data to complement or replace genuine data for the training of FR models has been proposed. While promising results have been obtained, it still remains unclear if generative models can yield diverse enough data for such tasks.”

Sébastien Marcel on LinkedIn: #biometrics #security #privacy #syntheticdata #responsibleai...

I am happy to share this work on synthetic face dataset generation for responsible face recognition. This is a method…

www.linkedin.com

The team’s research tests a new method that aims to tackle some of theses issues by “developing physics-inspired algorithms that allow precise control on the sampling of synthetic identities and variations thereof.” In technical terms, the method is “inspired by the physical motion of soft particles subjected to stochastic Brownian forces, allowing us to sample identities distributions in a latent space under various constraints.” After its core equation, it has been christened the Langevin algorithm — allowing for “a dense packing of the spherical identities while keeping latent space-spread minimal.”

In simpler terms, the algorithm imagines face biometrics as particles suspended in a medium, and applies force to ensure that these identifying units are optimally spread out.

“With this in hand,” say the researchers, “we generate several face datasets and benchmark them by training FR models, showing that data generated with our method exceeds the performance of previously GAN-based datasets and achieves competitive performance with state-of-the-art diffusion-based synthetic datasets.”

Additional support for the Langevin project comes from the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) and its affiliates, the European TReSPAsS-ETN, the Hasler foundation through the Responsible Face Recognition (SAFER) project and the Swiss Center for Biometrics Research and Testing.

The full paper is available here.

First synthetic child face database for face recognition

A separate paper from Da/sec Biometrics and Security Research Group at Germany’s Hochschule Darmstadt investigates child face recognition at scale. The authors also want to address issues of bias and privacy, which they say has not been given enough attention in the specific context of children, despite numerous potential applications for facial recognition systems for children. A given example is an automated process for recognizing victims in seized child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which is a growing problem, with more than 70 million CSAM videos and images obtained in 2019.

“Due to this immense amount of data, it is necessary to have automated systems which can identify the children in such material, necessitating effective face recognition systems,” the paper says. The authors present “a novel pipeline for creating a synthetic face database containing the same subjects both at adult age and also different child ages.” The paper says by combining GANS with face age progression (FAP) models, the team was able to create what it claims is “the first large-scale synthetic child face image database: HDA-SynChildFaces.”
The proposed processing pipeline enables what it calls a “controlled unbiased generation of child face images.” In simple terms, it shows a series of images predicting progressive changes to a face over time. The synthetically generated HDA-SynChildFaces database will be made available to researchers in the field of child face recognition, for whom it is “expected to provide a good basis for algorithm evaluation and training.”

The paper can be accessed via Frontiers in Signal Processing.

Main News:

Samsung wins patent for fingerprint sensor package and biometric cards

Samsung has been granted a patent for an integrated circuit (IC) for fingerprint reading, storage and processing and biometric cards can be implemented.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization (USPTO) granted intellectual property protection for a “Fingerprint sensor package and smart card including the same,” which was originally filed in July of last year. The patent award was noted by Patently Apple.

The patent describes a packaging substrate with a cavity and a core dielectric layer connecting the components. It also describes other possible elements for the card, such as a display unit, a memory device for storing card details and an RF chip. Samsung says the all-in-one chip includes algorithms and software that reduce latency and match failure rates for a better user experience, as well as biometric presentation attack detection (PAD).

The IC incorporates the fingerprint sensor, the secure element where the biometric template is stored, and the secure processor where the match is carried out. It was originally launched in 2022, and was awarded for Cybersecurity & Personal Privacy at the CES 2023 Best of Innovation Awards. Even prior to the launch of Samsung’s IC, the company had signed an MoU with Mastercard to develop fingerprint-enabled biometric payment cards.

The company referred to the IC in a promotional video last year as “the first all-in-one security solution” for biometric cards.

Idex Biometrics launched its “biometric-system-on-chip” or BSoC in 2020, which combines everything except the secure element. Fingerprint Cards and Infineon partnered to bring biometric processing within the secure element and eliminate the role of a separate processor a year later.

“The product positions Samsung as a first mover in the next-generation payment IC market, and Samsung will contribute to the expansion of the biometric card market by presenting a completely new payment experience,” said Gwanbon Koo, VP of the Security & Power Product Development Team at Samsung when the video was released a year ago.

At that time, Samsung emphasized the potential of biometric payment cards to help improve financial inclusion, and stated its intention to pave the way for mainstream adoption of the technology.

Samsung also offers payments through its digital wallet, Samsung Pay. So does Apple, which introduced its Apple Card in 2019.

Google Pay enhances online checkout with biometric options and expands BNPL features

Google Pay has rolled out a biometric autofill option for users, one of three new features aimed at enhancing the online checkout experience. The new update allows American Express and Capital One cardholders using Chrome desktop to see specific card benefits at checkout. Google has plans to include more cards in the future.

In a bid to improve both speed and security, Google Pay has updated its autofill verification process on Chrome and Android, so that its users can now fill in their card details using their device’s fingerprint, face scan, or screen lock PIN, rather than manually entering their security code. The update’s use of biometric technology aims to streamline the checkout process while maintaining security. In most cases, autofill will complete the form without any additional steps, though extra verification may be required if suspicious activity is detected.

“By leveraging biometrics, we greatly increase security while removing friction for a more convenient experience,” Google Pay VP and GM Ben Volk told PYMNTS.

Additionally, Google Pay began piloting by now, pay later (BNPL) options earlier this year and has now expanded these options to more merchant sites and Android apps across the U.S. Google says in a company blog post that shoppers can either link their existing BNPL accounts, such as Affirm and Zip, or sign up for a new account during checkout.

3 new Google Pay features to help you easily check out online

We're making online checkout even easier with three features.

blog.google

The blog also confirms that users can enable a device unlock feature, which requires unlocking the device before autofill reveals full card details. This measure aims to ensure that card information remains secure even if others have access to the device.

In 2020, it was reported that Google was developing proprietary physical and virtual debit cards that are linked to a bank account and integrated with an app, allowing for quick online purchases using either a phone or the card itself.

Interpol issues call for biometrics firm to provide mobile data collection devices

Interpol has issued a tender for mobile biometric collection (MBC) devices for collecting fingerprints and facial images. Specifically, the project focuses on two “lots” — “Highly Mobile Search Only Devices” and “Portable Search and Store Devices.”

“The objective of this call for tender is to issue a framework contract for 5 years with suppliers to procure and deliver various MBC devices (hardware & software solution),” says the document. “Biometrics are a critical identification tool, utilized by both Interpol and Member Countries on an international and national level. The value of biometric data is directly linked to the quality of that data; collection of high-quality biometric data is therefore key.”

For both lots, fingerprint and face biometric quality control are essentials, as is a clean bill from Interpol’s security audit. Per the Terms of Reference, “the devices must be capable of capturing good quality fingerprint and facial image data, packaging that data in an Interpol-compliant NIST that can then be extracted and be compared against Interpol’s biometric databases. It is important to note that in both scenarios, the ‘search’ will not be performed locally on the device. The ability to perform identification or verification locally on the device will be considered an optional ‘nice to have’ feature.”

In other words, the product can be either a software SDK to be installed on Interpol devices, or a self-contained hardware device with integrated biometric functionality. All equipment and software is to be delivered “as complete and ready for immediate use upon delivery” to the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon, France, or to a recipient member country specified by Interpol.

At the end of the open call, “the Organization shall draw up a list of one or more approved suppliers per each Lot.” Suppliers will be expected to deliver “training on the equipment being supplied and to indicate the maintenance and support procedure, and the warranty period.”

A nugget buried in the Terms of Reference hints at an extra opportunity for interested biometrics and digital ID providers.

“In addition to the equipment requested in these Technical Specifications,” it says, “Bidder(s) are allowed to present a catalog of products that, even if not explicitly listed in ‘Annex 1 List of biometric collection equipment’, may be deemed beneficial to Interpol.” The international crime fighting organization is apparently not opposed to a little impulse buying.

Full technical and financial specifications are available in a downloadable document package.

Mastercard aims to deliver digital identity, access for 100M in Africa

Mastercard is doubling down on spreading its Community Pass, a digital platform that holds a digital ID and wallet in a smart card and enables people in developing nations to access to government and humanitarian services.

The payment giant is partnering with the African Development Bank Group to deliver digital identity and access to online services to 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa over the next 10 years.

The African Development Bank Group has pledged to invest US$300 million into the initiative, named Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa. Mastercard, on the other hand, has promised to register 15 million users in Africa onto the Community Pass platform within five years.

The initiative will initially focus on supporting the agricultural sector in women. The first pilot program will launch in 2024 in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. The Alliance will work with local banks to provide digital identities and access to seeds and other resources. The program will then expand to Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana and the rest of the continent. The Alliance also plans to work with public and private partners to deliver services, including connectivity, work skills, employment and financial services.

“Across Africa, people are driving new growth and opportunity, and Mastercard wants to support their success,” says Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of last week’s U.S.-Africa Business Forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Community Pass was launched in 2020 as Mastercard’s social enterprise for digitizing underserved communities. The solution serves 3.5 million people but the company has ambitious plans to reach 30 million people by 2027, Tara Nathan, Mastercard executive vice president and Community Pass founder, said in an interview in October 2023.

In 2023, Community Pass received an ID2020 certification. This month, Mastercard was promoted from a Corporate Member to a Sustaining Member of the Board at the OpenID Foundation (OIDF), a global open standards body focused on identity.

Face ID component-maker’s plant could close as Apple ends orders

The future of Coherent‘s facility in County Durham, England is in jeopardy following the loss of its primary customer, Apple. Accounts filed by the U.S. semiconductor company Coherent revealed that the cessation of orders for the iPhone’s built-in facial recognition from Apple has impacted the plant’s operations.

Sources from The Sunday Telegraph have disclosed that the County Durham plant specializes in manufacturing components used in the iPhone’s Face ID biometric system. However, Apple has recently announced upcoming changes to the face biometrics features in the next iteration of the iPhone, leading to a discontinuation of orders from Coherent.

This move aligns with Apple’s rumored introduction of thinner bezels in some iPhone 16 models, achieved through the new Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology, as reported by The Elec. The next version of Apple devices’ native facial recognition is expected to be implemented under the screen.

Coherent recently secured $15 million in funding from the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022. This act provided the Department of Defense (DoD) with $2 billion to bolster and revitalize the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers and ensure national security.

The funding is intended to support Coherent’s efforts to adapt to the changing market conditions and diversify its customer base. Despite this financial boost, the future of the County Durham plant remains uncertain.

The potential closure of the plant would have a significant economic impact on the region, affecting jobs and the local economy.

Last year, the company reduced its workforce in Newton Aycliffe, UK, by more than 100 employees by June 2023, initially blaming weakening business conditions for the job cuts, prompting a restructuring of operations with a focus on reducing costs.

Coherent is a player in the semiconductor industry, and has a global presence, with manufacturing facilities and research centers across several countries, including the critical plant in County Durham, UK.

FIDO Alliance launches comprehensive selfie biometric IDV certification program

Mastercard is doubling down on spreading its Community Pass, a digital platform that holds a digital ID and wallet in a smart card and enables people in developing nations to access to government and humanitarian services.

The payment giant is partnering with the African Development Bank Group to deliver digital identity and access to online services to 100 million individuals and businesses across Africa over the next 10 years.

The African Development Bank Group has pledged to invest US$300 million into the initiative, named Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa. Mastercard, on the other hand, has promised to register 15 million users in Africa onto the Community Pass platform within five years.

The initiative will initially focus on supporting the agricultural sector in women. The first pilot program will launch in 2024 in Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. The Alliance will work with local banks to provide digital identities and access to seeds and other resources. The program will then expand to Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana and the rest of the continent. The Alliance also plans to work with public and private partners to deliver services, including connectivity, work skills, employment and financial services.

“Across Africa, people are driving new growth and opportunity, and Mastercard wants to support their success,” says Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of last week’s U.S.-Africa Business Forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Community Pass was launched in 2020 as Mastercard’s social enterprise for digitizing underserved communities. The solution serves 3.5 million people but the company has ambitious plans to reach 30 million people by 2027, Tara Nathan, Mastercard executive vice president and Community Pass founder, said in an interview in October 2023.

In 2023, Community Pass received an ID2020 certification. This month, Mastercard was promoted from a Corporate Member to a Sustaining Member of the Board at the OpenID Foundation (OIDF), a global open standards body focused on identity.

Nametag patents method for solving user lockouts during MFA resets

Resetting a password for an account with multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled can often lead to challenges that sometimes require users to seek assistance from customer support and undergo identity verification.

Nametag has introduced a potential solution by allowing users to securely enroll new MFA devices using a government-issued ID and a selfie photo. This enhancement in the MFA reset process addresses a crucial vulnerability frequently exploited by malicious actors, which could result in account takeovers and data breaches.

The U.S. patent office has granted Nametag patent 11949787 for “Systems and Methods for Linking an Authentication Account to a Device.” This patented solution is described as a self-service option for MFA and password resets.

“Our technology enables seamless MFA rebinding that reduces cost and risk for our customers while saving people time and frustration. We congratulate our team on this patent and for bringing this technology to the industry to help improve outcomes in both security and user experience,” says Aaron Painter, CEO of Nametag.

Within the system, there exists an authentication central server responsible for maintaining and managing authentication profiles. These profiles include a profile image, date of birth, and authentication data, such as passwords and biometric information.

The authentication server initiates a secure session with an authentication service on the user’s client device, such as a smartphone or computer. During this session, the authentication server receives a request from the client device, containing the device key, date of birth, and biometric image.

Upon receiving the request, the authentication server searches its database of authentication profiles to identify those with matching dates of birth. Additionally, it extracts biometric features from the provided image.

If the biometric features match, the authentication server associates the device key of the client device with the user’s authentication profile in its database.

The system requests an identification document, such as a driver’s license or passport, to further improve the security and precision of the authentication process.

The authentication server extracts the user’s date of birth and facial data from the ID and then compares the biometric image to ensure that the individual in the live capture matches the person in the identification document.

MOSIP launches QR code spec for interoperable offline biometrics, ID authentication

MOSIP, the Modular Open Source Identity Platform, has introduced a standardized, interoperable QR code that enables offline authentication with face biometrics.

Claim 169 has been added to the CBOR Web Token (CWT) Registry by IANA (the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), MOSIP announced on LinkedIn. It takes the form of a JSON Object, and in recognition of the size limitations of QR codes, MOSIP recommends using CWT with ED25519/ECC keys to condense data.

The standard defines 18 identity attributes so far, including name, different forms of contact information and marital status among demographic details. For biometrics, a low-resolution binary image of a facial photo and the format of the image are defined attributes, as is the best finger to use for fingerprinting.

ID30 CEO Jaume Dubois notes the benefit of Claim 169 making use of W3C Verifiable Credentials.

The idea is similar to the T5-Cryptograph offered by Tech5.

“By enabling secure facial authentication in remote areas with limited network connectivity, Claim 169 represents an important milestone in our goal to enhance interoperability and enable residents with reliable access to social benefits and government services,” MOSIP says in the announcement.

MOSIP explains in the specification documentation that basic identifiers like ID numbers, demographic data, passwords and PINs can be used for authentication to a low level of assurance, but higher assurance requires methods like a one-time password (OTP) or biometrics. These latter methods may not be practical in remote areas or where server reliability is inconsistent. The organization assumes that the app used for reading the QR code already has the country key to verify the information contained in the CWT.

Claim 169 is intended to support cross-border interoperability among foundational and national ID systems.

Strata Identity launches uninterrupted identity services product

There are a few things that can be more annoying than your office computer logging you out of applications because of technical issues such as cloud service failure. Businesses can suffer too, with downtime costs reaching upwards of US$500,000 or more per hour, according to a survey from Parametrix.

A loss of connection with the primary identity provider usually results in suspending all application access. However, Strata Identity has come up with a product that provides uninterrupted identity services across multiple cloud services.

The identity orchestration company has named it Maverics Identity Continuity and it works by autonomously switching the user to an alternative identity provider. The add-on is currently in beta and will be generally available in July, the company says in a release.

“For all their advantages, cloud-based services require uninterrupted connectivity to maintain business continuity,” says Eric Olden, CEO of Strata Identity. “Since identity providers control access to an organization’s applications and data, any downtime can shut down mission-critical operations,”

The Maverics Identity Continuity works with the help of Strata’s Schema Abstraction Layer which translates proprietary attribute schemas from different cloud and on-premises identity provider systems and vendors. If the primary identity provider is not available but the network connection remains Maverics will seamlessly switch to a backup cloud identity provider. If the network connection fails, the software makes sure that the user is connected to the application they need.

ID R&D patents voice biometrics and spoof detection to protect smart devices

ID R&D has been granted a patent for integrated voice biometrics and spoof detection for keywords and short requests used to unlock and access mobile phones, smart and IoT devices to guard them against fraud carried out with generative AI.

The company notes in an announcement that the use of voice as an interface for smart and IoT devices is expected to rise at a 21.3 percent compound annual rate from last year through 2030. Advances in large language models (LLMs) is contributing to this growth, but the FTC notes it is also contributing to scams, according to the announcement.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the patent for a “Method and Device for Unlocking a User Device by Voice.”

The patent document describes advanced neural networks matching the unique biometric characteristics of a user’s voice, as well as detecting whether the voice sample is real or fake, for what the patent refers to as “spoofing proof authentication.” The process can involve Fast Fourier Transform features and Discrete cosine transform features in the generation of three different confidence scores, which feed into an overall anti-spoofing confidence score.

“As a founder and biometrics veteran, I recognize that innovative technology is crucial for streamlining user experience and providing robust protection against fraud and unauthorized access, particularly in the voice domain,” says Alexey Khitrov, President of ID R&D. “By harnessing the inherent simplicity of voice control, we ensure secure access across a multitude of devices, including smartphones, PCs, and smart home systems. This positions ID R&D as a leader in the innovation of voice security.”

Ford Patents Face-based Vehicle Entry System

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a facial recognition entry system designed to unlock vehicles using biometric technology. The patent describes a camera-based system that scans the driver’s face to verify their identity before granting access. To address potential failures in facial recognition due to factors like poor lighting or changes in appearance, the system includes a backup authentication method involving a secret code. The innovation is part of Ford’s ongoing exploration of advanced vehicle access technologies, building on its previous use of biometric systems such as eye-tracking in vehicle interiors. This move aligns with industry trends, as seen with LG Electronics’ 2022 patent for a biometric ignition system using facial expressions and hand gestures.

BSI offers code of practice for ethical facial recognition use

A code of practice for the ethical deployment and use of facial recognition has been published for sale by the British Standards Institute (BSI), the UK national standards body. The code is based on recommendations from the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).

“Facial recognition technology — Ethical use and deployment in video surveillance-based systems — Code of practice” can be purchased from the BSI for the price of £122 for members, and £244 for non-members.

The code of practice sets out six key principles for trustworthy AI use: governance and accountability, human agency and oversight, privacy and data governance, technical robustness and safety, transparency and explainability, diversity, non-discrimination, and fairness. The principles of trustworthiness are derived from OECD and EU guidance, and aligned with UK regulatory policy, according to the announcement.

The code of practice is presented as a standard that applies to the whole supply chain, beginning with an assessment of the need to use facial recognition, and proceeding all the way through continued use.

“The release of the FRT code of practice is a significant moment in the journey towards the ethical use of this AI biometric technology in the United Kingdom, and as the first of its kind in the world, it shows that British Industry is leading the way in this work with a procedural standard written for developers, integrators, deployers and stakeholders of FRT,” says Anekanta Consulting and Anekanta AI CEO Pauline Norstrom, who also chairs the BSIA’s AI & Biometrics Special Interest Group.
“It is different to other standards for AI and biometrics, as a non-technical code of practice that operationalises the principles for trustworthy AI (ethical AI) through the entire value chain making it easy for industry to implement transparently with clear governance and accountability, and arguably with potentially lower impacts, risks and costs. Crucially, the standard contains a metaphorical ‘stop button’ to cease use if impacts cannot be mitigated. It also frames FRT as an AI technology which aligns with the definition of AI in international standards and new or pending regulation.”

Idemia’s mIDReader, Verify SDK achieve ISO certification for mobile ID verification

In a bid to secure verification of digital identities, Idemia has announced that its mIDReader device and Verify SDK have achieved certification under the International Standard Organization’s ISO 18013 Part 5 for mobile driving license (mDL) applications.

The mIDReader and Verify SDK are the product of development efforts aimed at bridging physical and digital identity verification while ensuring security and ease of use, according to the company. The mIDReader device, after evaluation and testing by UL Solutions, is now the first mID reader to be certified under the ISO/IEC 18013–5 standard.

The certification guarantees that every scanned ID is protected with advanced encryption technologies. The mIDReader ensures rapid and secure ID verification, while the Verify SDK offers an integration method for companies and government agencies, allowing them to verify identities and safeguard transactions efficiently.

Donnie Scott, CEO of Idemia Identity and Security North America, highlights the importance of the physical reader for businesses and government agencies. “As more individuals adopt digital IDs, it’s crucial to have reliable devices for mobile ID acceptance. The UL Solutions certification assures users of the mIDReader’s quick and secure validation capabilities.”

The mIDReader, compliant with U.S. transportation security requirements, is already in use by TSA officers at participating airports to verify travelers’ IDs. It is also integrated into the latest generation of TSA’s credential authentication technology.

Idemia’s use of encryption aims to ensure the security of users’ personal information. The Verify SDK enables seamless integration with existing systems, offering a cost-effective solution for digital identity verification. Beyond airports, the mIDReader and Verify SDK can be used for visitor check-ins, self-service kiosks, and age verification in retail settings.

Rodolpe Hugel, chief digital officer of Idemia Public Security North America, emphasizes the company’s commitment to secure and simple identity verification. “Achieving global certification for our mIDReader and Verify SDK to the ISO/IEC 18013–5 standard, and our collaboration with UL Solutions, are pivotal in providing users with secure and user-friendly products.”

The certification from UL Solutions confirms the mIDReader’s compliance with global security standards, reinforcing Idemia’s dedication to delivering high-quality, secure, and user-friendly products.

IOTA digital identity method gets support from Decentralized ID Universal Resolver

The IOTA development team has announced that its Digital Identity (DID) method is now resolvable via the Decentralized ID Universal Resolver from the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF). This integration simplifies adding IOTA Identity to new and existing applications, enhancing usability and adoption across different platforms. IOTA’s digital identity platform provides a secure and private online experience by enabling user-controlled data sharing without usernames and passwords, reducing the risk of data breaches. For organizations, it offers GDPR compliance, minimizes the need for storing personal information, and lowers onboarding costs. IOTA’s technology, based on the Tangle network, allows fee-less, scalable micro-transactions. The integration supports secure interactions and transactions through verifiable identities, extending trust to devices and enabling digital twins.