United States
Digital identity firm Socure says it contributed to the inclusion of new requirements by NIST to help cut fraud against government programmes, Socure’s VP of government relations Brendan Peter wrote in a blog post.
“Identity proofing and verification mechanisms are specifically called out in the [newly signed CHIPS and Science Act] legislation, and Congress recognized that proofing systems must be risk-based and adaptive to continuously evolving fraud schemes to ensure trust and security,” said Peter.
The post applauds the new Act for its potential to drive inclusivity gains, and says that data-driven approaches should be used to confirm digital identity, rather than controversial technologies like facial recognition. The new parts of NISTs’ biometrics-testing mandate could help identify those approaches.
United Kingdom
Companies House is developing a new digital identity verification process to prevent people registering companies for illegal purposes.
Chief executive Louise Smyth referred to the plan in a blogpost, saying that anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a company in the UK will need to provide assurance they are who they claim to be.
A spokesperson for Companies House that an individual will have to verify their identity, either directly or through an agent, by linking themselves with an authorised photo ID. They will take photographs of their face and the photo ID, which will then be compared with likeness matching technology as a validation. If successful, the person will then be notified within minutes, as per UK Authority.
United Kingdom
UK identity tech company OneID has published a new report uncovering the potential value of the bank assured identity model to the finance and leasing sector.
Bank assured identity enables customers to corroborate their identity using bank grade information with a third party. This is completed via a secure transaction and does not require uploads of personal identity documents, such as passports.
The findings showed benefits such as gathering accurate and authenticated customer information in a way that is quick and secure. Additionally, being able to utilise bank verified data as this is a safe and efficient way to reduce fraud and identity impersonation across a wide range of products and services with minimal disruption to the customer journey.
United Kingdom
New research shows that a significant proportion of UK homebuyers aren’t being asked to provide ID when purchasing a property, let alone having their ID properly verified.
The survey of UK homebuyers by Credas Technologies asked when purchasing their last property, did the selling agent ask for proof of identity, such as, but not limited to, a passport or driving licence?
Despite the relative ease and range of options available to help verify someone’s identity, around a quarter (23 percent) of those surveyed by Credas Technologies admitted they hadn’t been asked to verify their identity at all.
When asked the same with respect to their current address, 30 percent also stated they provided no proof, for example, in the form of a utility bill or similar. Thirteen percent said that they weren’t asked to verify their identity by their lawyer or solicitor once the sale had started to progress.
United Kingdom
A limited beta version of the One Login mechanism for government services has gone into effect at the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Natalie Jones, director of digital identity at the Government Digital Service (GDS), which is running the One Login for Government programme, has referred to the move in an update blogpost.
She added that GDS also has a beta version of an identity checking app for people with driving licences running with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for Government Gateway users.
The browser based version of One Login in use at DBS has come later than originally scheduled for April, but soon after Jones said it would be available within weeks at a conference in June. The agency was identified as the first planned to use the service late last year.
United States
Digital identity firm Daon is partnering with Neustar to provide an integrated solution for deterministic authentication through automatic number identification (ANI) validation. The solution is designed to reduce fraud and mitigate call spoofing.
The partnership with Neustar will augment the Daon IdentityX library of biometric algorithms with Neustar Authentication Plus and Account Link solutions. These solutions provide deterministic and probabilistic device and phone number identity proofing before the call is connected, providing contact centres the ability to provide a frictionless authentication experience. By integrating Neustar’s communication solutions, phone calls and devices used to make those calls will undergo real-time inspection to ensure accurate, secure caller-to-agent contact through ANI validation and ANI match.
United Kingdom
Another UK compliance and biometric onboarding vendor has earned government certification to sell into the digital ID service market.
Amiqus says the certificate tells would-be buyers that the company has met specific criteria to securely handle DBS criminal record checks and digital right-to-work documentation. Those buyers are in the legal, recruitment, public sector and financial services industries.
Besides identity reports made on job candidates, Amiqus performs selfie biometric checks and photo ID verification for documents from 195 nations. It also offers video liveness checks with face capture and NFC scanning of biometric passports.
United States
Equifax has completed the acquisition of Midigator LLC, a provider of post-transaction fraud mitigation solutions. The acquisition further expands Equifax’s global footprint in digital identity and fraud prevention solutions.
“Equifax is poised to broaden our digital identity footprint in a fast growing space,” said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. “The acquisition of Midigator will harness the power of the Equifax Cloud and expand on the strength of our rapidly growing Kount business to bring global businesses the information and solutions they need to better manage fraud across the complete customer lifecycle. We are energized to welcome the Midigator team to Equifax and will continue to reinvest in strategic bolt-on acquisitions to further expand our capabilities well beyond a traditional credit bureau and drive growth in the future.”
Jordan
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship has called for activating the “digital identity” through the Sanad application by visiting Sanad stations, or through the Arabi Mobile application.
The ministry said on its Twitter account that the Sanad application has many advantages, adding that about 150,000 people were using the application as of August.
It said the number of those who downloaded the application exceeded two million people, as it was a requirement for entering public and private facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global
Google is reportedly testing digital identification features after an app update. Reclaim the Net has reported that Google Wallet would implement the new technology.
Cameroon
A pilot programme by Cameroon’s government and the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) is reportedly issuing biometrics-based IDs to 6000 refugees from Central African Republic (CAR), to help them access basic services.
Without a legal ID, refugees across the continent often suffer discrimination and abuse, human rights groups say.
Cameroon – which hosts about half a million refugees in all – joins a handful of African nations including Senegal, Mali and Rwanda that have issued a limited number of refugee IDs, said Mbav Tshilombo, UNHCR deputy representative in Cameroon.
