News and insight into biometric identification and authentication

Westfield considering facial recognition installation in Australia

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Westfield, a retail corporation that oversees a number of shopping centers in four countries, is considering implementation of a facial recognition system at the Penrith Shopping Centre in Sydney, Australia, according to a Sydney Morning Herald article. The system would combine the biometric technology with standard surveillance cameras to alert security of a potential threat.


Despite the potential system’s expected intention to be used to apprehend known crooks and other criminals, privacy advocates fear the lack of control to ensure that is its only purpose could lead to expanded use of the system. Despite this, many experts support the move towards utilizing biometric technology for security purposes citing the lack of quality of closed-circuit television security systems.

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The International Biometric and Identification Association released a paper that proposes best practices for use of facial recognition in consumer applications.

While the new consumer and commercial applications of face detection and face recognition technologies – such as social media and digital signage – can be positive and beneficial to consumers, they must be deployed with utmost sensitivity to the privacy of the consumer and general public, according to IBIA and Joseph Atick. Atick is one of the original inventors of face recognition technology and is vice chairman at the IBIA.

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Viv.ie, a start-up located in Ireland working on face recognition technology, announced it is finishing a new type of facial recognition technology that does away with a number of the security pitfalls current facial recognition technology is commonly guilty of, according to a Sydney Morning Herald article.

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The facial recognition feature that’s part of the most recent incarnation of the Android mobile device operating system called Ice Cream Sandwich is being panned as very easily fooled, according to an Information Week article.

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Neurotechnology announced that it has developed three versions of embedded solutions for Android-powered devices such as smart phones and tablets.

Specifically, Neurotechnology has ported its VeriFinger Embedded software development kit (SDK), which authenticates user identities via fingerprints, VeriLook Embedded SDK, which authenticates user identities via facial recognition, and MegaMatcher Embedded SDK, which authenticates user identities via both fingerprints and facial recognition. A version that utilizes iris recognition also is in the works.

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A new Morpho company under the Safran group has been launched called MorphoTrust USA.

The new company, which was formed after the acquisition of three divisions and the headquarters of former biometrics developer L-1 Identity Solutions, will serve as an identity solutions provider dedicated to the U.S. market only.

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Federal Trade Commission staff is seeking public comments on the issues raised at a FTC workshop exploring facial recognition technology and the privacy and security implications raised by its increasing use.

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