Biometrics

Fingerprint scheme at Heathrow's Terminal 5 challenged
BAA’s plan to require fingerprints from both international and domestic passengers who use the terminal may violate the U.K. Data Protection Act; Thursday’s opening of the £4.3 billion terminal may be delayed
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Three more EU members on way to visa waver status
The United States, continuing to defy the EU, grants pre-visa waiver status to Slovakia, Hungary, and Lithuania; EU wants to negotiate a package deal on behalf of the twelve new EU members, while U.S. prefers to deal with each country on its security merits
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More than 4 million credit, debit cards exposed in security breach
Supermarket chain Hannaford Bros., with 270 stores nationwide, says that a security breach in its system exposed 4.2 million credit and debit cards; 1,800 cases of fraudulent use already detected
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Campaign to launch U.K. e-crime unit gathers momentum
What with the growing worries about the safety of e-commerce, silicon.com launches an e-commerce security campaign; industry likes the idea, but wants government to fund it; government says businesses should pay, too
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Taking stock of UKVisas program
UKVisas is part of the U.K. government’s e-border program - and to date has moved faster than other components of the scheme; the program wins a technology award, which is a good occasion to see where the program stands today
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Growth of facial recognition biometrics, II
Some twenty states already use facial recognition in their DMVs, and more states are planning to do so; the federal government incorporates facial recognition in some of its important initiatives; privacy advocates are concerned that the technology is becoming too pervasive
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MI5 seeks powers to trawl records in new terror hunt
As part of the Brown government’s new counterterrorism strategy, which places emphasis on thwarting a cyber-attack on the United Kingdom, MI5 seeks total access to commuters’ travel records to help them meet the threat
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Voice biometrics gaining a foot hold
Philips and PerSay combine encryption software with technology that manages users’ “voiceprints” and speech verification; both potential customers and privacy advocates say they like it
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Growth of facial recognition biometrics, I
More and more private and government organizations turn to facial recognition biometric (just think DMVs), but privacy concerns slow broader adoption
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Beyond fingerprinting: Alternative biometric technologies advance
As more organizations turn to biometric technology to help them perform their missions, they show interest in a variety of technologies — vein architecture, retinal scan, facial recognition, and more; these are good times for innovative biometric companies
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Biometrics help soldiers in Iraq
Biometric readers connected to databases allow soldiers in Iraq quickly to identify suspects at check points and those arrested during night raids
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Biometric-at-a-distance is not here yet
For four years, the government has poured a lot of money on long-distance surveillance systems which would identify individuals from a distance in a crowd; the technology is not here yet
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Voice biometrics gaining acceptance
Banks are interested in applying voice biometrics to Internet banking; voice profile eliminates the need for remembering identifiers such as PINs, passwords, mother’s maiden name, or for having special equipment such as PIN pads or fobs
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TSA to examine airport passenger screenings
TSA to undertake a sweeping review of airport security practices; private jets’ owners and passengers will have to provide personal information to be screened by border patrol
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Banking security measures can tackle terrorism and terrorist financing
Mobile phones can be part of the banks’ security to prevent terrorist financing through fraud, but it can also be a direct tool in the pursuit of homeland security
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