Fingerprint biometrics and innovations in national identity systems are common themes in many of this week’s most read articles Biometric update. On the government front, NADRA is using multi-finger biometrics, South Korea is adopting blockchain and Cameroon is facing issuance issues. Elsewhere, Precise, Isorg and Fingerprint Cards are making strides in the biometric mobile fingerprint market, and research on baby fingerprints shows accuracy gains.

The most important biometric news of the week

NADRA has upgraded the system used in Pakistan for biometric SIM registration to register multiple fingerprints of each person to improve the accuracy of matching. The exercise appears to reduce the number of illegal SIM cards in use, with the overall number of subscribers declining. Biometrics are also credited with helping to reduce the number of fraudulent identity cards being issued.

Indonesia will receive $250 million from the World Bank to strengthen civil registry and enable access to public and private services through biometrics. A report from the bank identifies five areas for improvement in the country’s digital identity system, which has high coverage but whose services are not yet widely available online.

South Korea has begun using blockchain for its national digital ID system and is expanding its scope for a 2024 deadline for full functionality. Beom Soo Park, an official of the Ministry of the Interior, explains Biometric update in an interview that the system is based on a physical card issued after personal identification, explains the legal support status and describes the benefits of using a distributed ledger.

Another well-read selection from our 2022 capping features takes a closer look at the issuance issues facing Cameroon’s national identity card system. Cameroonians describe their experience and the real impact of waiting for the biometric ID, but the president of the country’s election commission tells Biometric update that countless cards go unclaimed.

The Canadian province of Newfoundland wants to move quickly to a government-backed digital ID pilot, while Ontario appears to have abandoned the digital identities program. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador is seeking funding and meeting with the federal government and the provincial privacy commissioner.

Clinical trials of technology developed to capture and match infant biometric fingerprints suggest that high-resolution non-contact imaging has the potential to confirm the identity of newborn babies. The study of nearly 500 children in Mexico found a TAR of 96 percent with a false acceptance rate of 0.1 percent for children who were four days old or older.

Precise Biometrics has licensed technology to Isorg to support its entry into the commercial market for sensors in mobile devices. The deal nets Precise more than a million dollars. Fingerprint Cards, meanwhile, has booked a volume order for its under-screen fingerprint biometric solution from a major Asian smartphone manufacturer.

In the field of speech technology, an AI researcher has built a service that allows consumers to use a chatbot with their own voice to represent them on phone calls with companies where they have an account, Vice reports. Do Not Pay founder Joshua Browder demonstrated his commercial deepfake service in a conversation with his bank that he posted on Twitter.

Socure has reduced its workforce by more than 100 employees, six months after laying off more than 10 percent of its staff. The company is navigating the effects of slowdowns in key market segments such as fintech, gaming and crypto, but says its overall position remains strong.

FaceTec is the latest technology provider involved in a biometric data privacy lawsuit in Illinois, with users of a dating application among its identity verification customers alleging that FaceTec has informed consent obligations it fails to meet. Yoti is trying to get his BIPA case heard in federal court instead of state court.

Dr. Christoph Busch tells Biometric update in another interview that biometrics technical standards are advancing, particularly in presentation attack detection and facial image quality, despite a smaller standardization community than in some other areas. Busch discusses how community members can contribute to standards development and the relationship between standards and testing labs.

CAF CEO Darryl Green explains Biometric update that the company’s recent round of nominations is part of a carefully designed international expansion plan. Green also talks about the challenges and opportunities in biometric identity verification for sports betting in Brazil.

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Article topics

biometrics | digital identity card | digital identity | face biometrics | fingerprint biometrics | government services | national ID | research and development