Facial recognition “to open new avenues for smart cities” in 2022

In 2022 and beyond, facial recognition technology will play a key role in the future of global urban development and assist in improving the experience of smart citizens. From personal convenience through to enhanced public safety, the range of applications is wide-ranging. That’s the firm belief of facial recognition technology solutions provider Corsight AI.

Using their face as their credit card, members of the public will no longer have to leverage cash for payments or worry about a stolen/lost wallet. A secure biometric system – such as that being pioneered by Amazon Go stores – makes paying for goods or services effortless.  

In terms of security and access, workplaces are beginning to understand the value of the technology as it can enable the seamless flow of people and facilitate the protection of sensitive locations by restricting access to approved visitors only. Spaces such as building sites, maternity wards and Critical National Infrastructure locations can all benefit from this software.

Facial recognition can also be used in smart cities to help identify those at risk. In the case of searching for a missing child or an Alzheimer’s patient, facial recognition technology can significantly speed up the process.

There’s a particular concern right now about the safety of public streets, especially so for women. Facial recognition technology can prove useful for recognising unusual behaviour and identifying and tracking known offenders throughout the city environment. 

Higher standards in 2022

As is the case with any technology, there are potential risks to using facial recognition, such as threats to privacy, violations of rights and potential data theft. These concerns are of significant importance and have even forced the hand of some public and private organisations to limit the use of the technology. This calls for thoughtful Government regulation moving forward and heightened responsibility for facial recognition technology vendors and operators to comply with the rules.

Currently, documents such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are in place to set industry standards and provide ways for individuals to protect their personal data – and, by extension, their privacy and other Human Rights – which we’re seeing enforced. 

Although the industry continues to demand greater certainty from lawmakers, it’s evident that Best Practice is emerging from the application of the GDPR and its core principles. The use of Privacy Management Programmes and Data Protection Impact Assessments demonstrates the willingness to protect the data rights of citizens and maintain trust and confidence across our communities. A combination of these policies and their application will continue to ensure facial recognition technology can be used as a force for good. 

Cyber security

As data processing becomes more central to operations in 2022, organisations will need to be more responsive to the evolving cyber threat landscape. For facial recognition technology end users, in particular, securing biometric data will remain a top priority this year.

Cyber criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, and will now typically seek the most sensitive data to hold at ransom. Vendors must therefore implement the most stringent security measures to protect sensitive data and ensure end users are working hard to stay on top of the threat.

Customers will also demand more transparency from organisations about how they’re using their biometric data and how it’s being stored and protected. To garner trust, users of facial recognition technology must be more explicit in its use and set clear measures on individual privacy and data protection.

In 2022 and beyond, Corsight AI expects to see further commitment from policymakers and industry to develop even higher standards that attain levels not seen before. The move towards ‘Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence’, greater regulation and a genuine commitment to Human Rights will support the development of this software such that it can be used as a force for good.

Maxxess updates popular eVisitor visitor management solution

Maxxess has released a major update to its eVisitor visitor management solution, with new mobile access integrations and touchless reader choices purpose-designed to support more flexible workplace operations in a post-pandemic environment.

The new release includes end user options for mobile access control using smart phones, with authorised visitors and site users now able to pass through secure entrances using a choice of more convenient and hygenic contactless and touchless methods, among them secure and General Data Protection Regulation-compliant biometrics.

Touchless kiosks allow reception staffing levels to be reduced in settings from hospitality to corporate offices, and provide faster and more convenient check-in and entry for guests.

For the growing number of organisations wanting to switch old-style access cards or fobs for smart phones, eVisitor now allows access to be granted when users place their phones in front of a reader like a standard card. Users can ‘press and enter’ using remote control. They can slide their hand across the reader without needing to take out their phone. They can pat on their phone while it’s in their pocket or they can just approach the reader.

Technology that differentiates between access points at distances of up to 20 metres allows multiple readers to operate in the same area. The system controller can specify which options are offered by each reader, depending on the security and operational requirements of each location.

The updated eVisitor makes it faster and easier for site users including regular staff, contractors and temporary workers to access those areas where they’re authorieed to be and also to gain access to the facilities they’re entitled to use, such as Wi-Fi and IT networks.

Post-pandemic recovery

“Our eVisitor visitor management solution is in high demand because it’s helping organisations to move forward confidently with the priorities of the post-pandemic recovery, including the shift to hybrid working,” explained Lee Copland, managing director for the EMEA region at Maxxess.

“It enables smooth and hassle-free access to multiple facilities, for example by making team and customer meetings easier to arrange and facilitate. This is helping to re-invigorate collaborative in-person working and driving innovation after months during which teams have necessarily been restricted to remote video calls.”

The hygienic, touchless and frictionless access model has become more popular over the last year, with hygiene a top priority. This is likely to remain an important consideration as organisations look to improve resilience against ongoing infection control and the risk of new variants like Omicron emerging.

eVisitor has also been welcomed for improving the visitor experience for staff and guests alike, making it much easier to book customer meetings and collaborate with colleagues from other facilities or organisations, as well as manage external contractors attending to take care of maintenance and other services on site. All of the above can now be transacted using Outlook or via an intuitive online portal, and configured with pre-screening if required.

ID requests, which are required at critical infrastructure sites and increasingly so for many customers in regions such as the Middle East, can also be mandated using eVisitor. Licence plate registration allows automated vehicle entry through barriers. Drivers can be further assisted with parking space allocation and wayfinding information, which is very useful at large and complex sites.

Maxxess eVisitor is proving popular for the way in which it enables secure and efficient management of visitors as well as scheduled van and truck deliveries, with intuitive dashboards that provide a real-time overview of everyone on site across single or multiple facilities. Comprehensive reporting tools deliver an audit trail for compliance and contact tracing purposes.

*Additional information is available to view online at https://maxxess-efusion.com/evisitor/

Bidvest Noonan outlines bold plans for touchless and frictionless security

Bidvest Noonan has unveiled plans to introduce “disruptive new technologies” designed to bring about the company’s vision for “truly touchless and frictionless” security.

The business has just recruited industry heavy-hitter Stephen Webb (pictured below) as its director of technology solutions. Webb boasts over 20 years’ experience in leading the development of security technology businesses here in the UK and also in North America.

Bidvest Noonan has accelerated its innovation and technology programmes in response to the pandemic. The business saw working practices change and clients grappling with a host of new problems during what has been a challenging period. The company’s security solutions team sought technology-enhanced systems to help clients keep their people safe, ensure business continuity and find new ways of achieving their longer-term objectives.

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The company set its sights on leveraging Artificial Intelligence-enhanced, cloud-based and biometric-focused security systems with a view towards transforming and unifying areas such as access control, alarm monitoring, video surveillance and visitor management.

Stephen Webb’s appointment to what is a newly-created senior leadership role signals the business’ commitment to advancing its security technology plans.

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Commenting on this development, Eddie Ingram (managing director of Security Solutions at Bidvest Noonan) informed Security Matters: “I’m thrilled to welcome Stephen to our team. He has a proven track record for leveraging technology to deliver performance improvements and added value to clients. He will play an important role in the development of our ambitious security technology plans and I know he will be very successful at Bidvest Noonan.”

CDVI joins Zitko Talent Alliance as founding training partner

Security solutions manufacturer the CDVI Group has joined forces with Zitko Talent as one of the Zitko Talent Alliance programme’s founding training partners. The Zitko Talent Alliance is a partnership of employers, educators and manufacturers devoted to attracting and developing a fresh generation of fire and security engineers.

CDVI is a global manufacturer of front line security solutions, offering an extensive range of innovative products from online and standalone access control systems through to locking, door automation and the next generation of biometric entry solutions.

Now, CDVI will be running courses covering practical sessions on the basics of standalone access control, door automation and biometric systems. Talent trainees will learn all about how about how keypads, locking mechanisms, ancillaries and other elements connect and work in combination in order to keep premises secure.

The news follows hot-on-the-heels of the announcement that Reliance High-Tech, one of the industry’s leading integrators, has recently joined the Zitko Talent programme as a founding employer.

Paul Ramsay, general manager at CDVI UK, explained: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Zitko on its talent programme. We believe strongly in long-term investment when it comes to training and developing new generations of skilled professionals for the benefit of our industry and our customers. We know this is the best way to combat the skills shortage in the security industry and we’re thrilled to be working with Zitko to make a difference.”

Hands-on experience

Aaron Sadler, training manager at CDVI UK, added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Zitko candidates to our training programmes. We know that high-quality training is the key to boosting the security industry both now and in the future. Our courses are designed to give learners maximum hands-on experience with real-world products. We cannot wait to start.”

Zitko Talent consultant Priya Vencatasawmy concluded: “I’m over the moon to welcome CDVI to Zitko Talent. The business has an amazing facility in High Wycombe and the ability to provide a wide range of quality practical and theoretical training. Paul and his team have great in-depth knowledge of the industry and are well placed to help us achieve our goal of training and employing 1,000 candidates every year. We couldn’t be happier about the fact that CDVI has partnered with us on the Zitko Talent programme.”

*For full details of the programme access https://www.zitko.co.uk/divisions/talent

iProov Study: UK public “overwhelmingly unaware” of deepfake threat

A nationwide study conducted by biometric facial authentication specialist iProov has revealed a sheer lack of awareness and education around deepfake technology among the UK public, with almost three-quarters (72%) of respondents saying they’ve never even heard of a deepfake video.  

Deepfake is a technique for human image synthesis based on Artificial Intelligence. It’s used to combine and superimpose existing images and videos on to source images or videos using a machine learning technique known as generative adversarial network. Due to these capabilities, deepfakes have been used to create fake videos. Deepfakes can also be used to create fake news and malicious hoaxes.

The research polled 2,000 respondents across the UK to reveal their attitudes towards (and understanding of) deepfake technology. The results highlight a need for awareness and education on the impact of deepfakes which, if not addressed, will have huge implications on personal and professional security.

Commenting on the findings, Andrew Bud (founder and CEO at iProov) said: “Awareness is the first defence against any cyber security threat, as we’ve already seen with attacks like phishing and ransomware. Deepfakes, however, represent a whole new kind of danger to businesses and individuals. Technology also has a big role to play in combating the threat, yet if the vast majority of people in the UK have such little awareness of deepfakes right now, they simply cannot begin to prepare themselves as they need to.”

Underlying societal threat 

Until recently, deepfakes were a nascent concept. Today, the technology behind deepfakes is threatening to undermine the notion of trust in moving images and is becoming increasingly accessible – be it through the creation of fake news or spoofing the identity checks required to log into a bank account.

However, the research has revealed members of the public to be largely unaware of the threats. Even once respondents were provided with the definition of a deepfake video, almost a third (28%) said they believed them to be completely harmless. More than two-thirds of respondents (70%) confessed they didn’t believe they would be able to tell the difference between a deepfake and a real video.

Detecting fraudulent identities

Interestingly, once those surveyed were provided with a definition of a deepfake video, they began to recognise the technology’s mounting threat. In fact, just under two-thirds (65%) of people said that their newfound knowledge of the existence of deepfakes undermined their trust in the Internet.

Notably, consumers went on to cite identity theft as the biggest concern (42%) for how they believed deepfake technology could be misused. Almost three-quarters (72%) of respondents also said they would be far more likely to use an online service with preventative measures in place to mitigate the use of deepfakes.

Despite the security implications of the specific concerns raised surrounding identity theft, more than half of all respondents (55%) surprisingly called out social networks as the party most responsible for dealing with deepfake synthetic videos.

Bud added: “Taking the fight to this new wave of fraud means that security measures in this new post-truth era simply have to be as creative, sophisticated and fast-moving as the fraudsters. While the adoption of biometric technology to crack down on deepfakes is growing among financial institutions, Governments and large-scale enterprises, the challenge ahead lies in the effective detection of a genuine human presence. It’s a challenge that should not be underestimated.”

“Payments via voice tech on rise but consumers reluctant to make ‘big ticket’ purchases” reports Paysafe

According to new research commissioned by the Paysafe Group, over half of consumers (57%) questioned would use voice-activated technology, such as Amazon’s Alexa, to pay for low-value goods and services. The research also found that one-in-ten (11%) have used voice to confirm their identity when purchasing goods online.

Furthermore, over half (53%) of consumers believe that using voice-activated technology is quicker and more convenient than traditional payment methods, suggesting an increasing acceptance of voice-activated systems in consumers’ lives.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) suggested that a greater choice of verification methods, such as voice and fingerprint, make them feel more secure about making payments online, although most consumers (81%) still feel most comfortable if a password’s included somewhere in the process. 

While the acceptance of voice in payment scenarios is clearly increasing, consumers are still in two minds about making larger purchases and, indeed, the security of voice technology in general. For example, only 18% would be happy to pay for a holiday or book flights using voice recognition. From a security perspective, just over a third (37%) trust that their financial information is secure when using voice-activated technology and nearly half (45%) said they don’t want companies having access to their personal biometric details.

The research report, entitled ‘Lost in Translation: The End of Risk?’, explores consumer attitudes to biometrics prior to the roll-out of Strong Customer Authentication later this year. The annual study tracks changing views on payments globally.

Commenting on the research results, Danny Chazonoff (COO at the Paysafe Group) said: “The age of voice has well and truly arrived with the advent of affordable and highly functional smart speakers. As consumers become more comfortable using voice to access services, it’s only a matter of time before ordering goods and making payments by voice enters the mainstream both via smart devices and mobile.”

Chazonoff continued: “Understandably with a nascent tech like voice activation, consumers are still apprehensive about security. Our research indicates that consumers are likely to start experimenting with low-value shopping and services, but this will inevitably change as people become more comfortable using voice. Once a user base is established, it can take a couple of years before we see a rapid increase in usage.”

*To read the full research report visit https://www.paysafe.com/lost-in-transaction-the-end-of-risk/

Keri Feeney joins UK sales team at access control solutions developer Inner Range

Inner Range has hired Keri Feeney to join its UK sales team. Feeney takes on the role of regional sales manager for the South and will focus on generating new business for the Berkshire-based company as well as managing existing client relationships. 

Previously, Feeney worked as the regional manager for ievo, the manufacturer of biometric fingerprint readers. She has also worked as a fire and security consultant for Firstline Security Solutions.

Keri Feeney

Speaking about her new appointment, Feeney told Risk Xtra: “Inner Range has a fantastic reputation for designing and manufacturing high quality products for the full spectrum of security needs. I’m looking forward to meeting new and existing customers and helping them to devise the right access and security solution for their needs.”

Tim Northwood, general manager at Inner Range, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Keri to our team. She already has a good insight into the access control sector and direct experience of working with biometrics. This, together with her energy and enthusiasm, will stand her in great stead to win new business and keep our current clients happy.”

IDnow launches AI-powered ID Verification-as-a-Service platform capable of identifying seven billion-plus potential customers

IDnow, a company nominated in the 2018 FinTech50 listing of the hottest European start-up businesses, has launched the next generation of its Identity Verification-as-a-Service platform that will enable companies to verify the identities of more than seven billion potential customers online easily and securely, and in compliance with regulatory Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements across Europe and beyond.

The IDnow platform – which is already trusted by several hundred companies across Europe, including UBS, Commerzbank and Telefonica – has been significantly enhanced with biometric, computer vision and security fraud detection technologies that gives it “the most extensive ID verification capabilities in the market” able to meet more identity verification use cases than any other platform.

The IDnow platform meets the high security and fraud detection requirements of strictly regulated environments for financial services and telecommunications sectors in countries like Germany, Switzerland and other European countries and is fully compliant with all relevant regulations and directives such as the AML regulation, eIDAS, the General Data Protection Regulation and PSD2.

In addition, the platform meets the business requirements for speedy and simple workflows that reduce customer on-boarding friction for non-regulated or lightly regulated sectors such as mobility, travel, recruitment and the sharing economy.

Features of the solution include:

*Fully-automated ID verification process including facial recognition, Optical Character Recognition and hologram and other anti-fraud detection features

*Video-based, agent-assisted ID verification workflow to meet specific regulatory environment requirements as well as to help ‘last mile’ conversion for customers unable to complete the automated process

*Integrated Issuance of Qualified Electronic Signature certificates for E-Sign solution

The IDnow platform can be easily integrated into a company’s service application and customers can complete an identification check quickly and easily from a smart phone. For industries or countries with more stringent security regulations, the platform will continue to offer video chat-based identity verification.

“As we do more online, digital identities are becoming the new currency, so knowing your customers has become more important than ever,” explained Rupert Spiegelberg, CEO at IDnow. “Companies need an easy, trusted and compliant way of finding out who their customers really are. We believe our platform can offer just that. In addition, with full automation and compliance, organisations can rely on one platform for international requests, helping to bridge the gap in the market. As an end user, this means no more posting of copies of passport/proof of address, no more having to be present yourself at a physical branch and, for corporate customers, lower costs and higher success in customer acquisition.”

A.I. Tech’s business intelligence technology sets the Benchmark

The technology that sits at the very heart of the Wisenet Biometrics and Retail solutions, which have been jointly engineered by Hanwha Techwin and analytic specialist A.I. Tech, has won the Business Intelligence category in the Benchmark Innovation Awards 2018 run by Risk Xtra’s sister publication Benchmark Magazine.

The Benchmark Innovation Awards are designed to recognise and reward innovative thinking and the delivery of benefits through advanced security solutions.

A Benchmark test team and an independent panel from the security industry judged products and solutions from across ten technology areas, with A.I. Tech’s AI-Tech video analytics winning the Business Intelligence category against stiff competition from the other shortlisted finalists.

Wisenet Biometrics and Retail solutions, which are supplied ready to work out-of-the-box, are designed to enable smaller retail chains, as well as smaller outlets such as convenience stores, CTNs and petrol stations to gain a greater understanding of the type and numbers of people who visit their outlets.

“We’re very pleased that A.I. Tech’s innovative video analytics technology has been recognised in the form of this high profile and prestigious award,” said Bob Hwang, managing director of Hanwha Techwin Europe. “This further justifies our strategy of working in close partnership with specialist application developers such as A.I. Tech in order to deliver on our promise of continually developing new and innovative solutions which make good use of our high-performance Wisenet open platform cameras.”

CDVI UK receives Cyber Essentials accreditation

CDVI UK has announced the company’s successful accreditation to the Cyber Essentials security standards. Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed and industry-supported scheme designed to help organisations protect themselves against common online threats. This set of basic technical controls assists organisations in protecting themselves against common online security threats.

This certification is consistent with the continual desire of CDVI UK to offer secured solutions and products.

CDVI UK has been working with Luke Hargreaves, managing director at Cloud Smart Solutions, to secure the company’s IT network against cyber attacks. The business now has up-to-date and operative cyber security measures in place.

The latest update of the ATRIUM web-based access control to General Data Protection Regulation standards shows that CDVI’s product development is fully connected to the latest trends in the security industry.

The CDVI Group develops products ranging from biometric and online access control solutions through to electromagnetic locking, keypads, stand-alone entrance systems and door automation.