Login.gov Names New Director Ahead of Facial Recognition Pilot
(Federal News Network, Apr 24, 2024)
Hanna Kim, Login.gov’s deputy director who started in January, will serve as its director, starting next month. GSA’s Technology Transformation Services told staff Wednesday that Kim will begin her tenure as Login.gov director on May 11. She’ll take over for Dan Lopez-Braus, who will step down as director and serve as senior advisor for TTS. Kim, a former tech product manager at Amazon who previously served as a national security policy advisor at the departments of State, Defense and Treasury, will lead Login.gov as it prepares to test facial recognition as an identity-proofing option, starting next month.
Amazon Bans Police Use of its Face Recognition for a Year
(Aol., Apr 24, 2024)
Amazon banned police use of its face-recognition technology for a year, making it the latest tech giant to step back from law-enforcement use of systems that have faced criticism for incorrectly identifying people with darker skin. The Seattle-based company did not say why it took action now. Ongoing protests following the death of George Floyd have focused attention on racial injustice in the U.S. and how police use technology to track people. Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into the handcuffed black man’s neck for several minutes even after Floyd stopped moving and pleading for air.
Border Agency Eyes Smartphone Facial Recognition System Amid Privacy Concerns
(The Canadian Press, Apr 24, 2024)
Travellers would be able to use facial recognition technology to identify themselves through their smartphones when crossing the border under a planned federal project. The Canada Border Services Agency says the initiative would allow for a faster and more seamless travel experience. A pilot project is still two to four years away, but an Ottawa-based civil liberties coalition is already flagging concerns about privacy and accountability.
Iberia Introduces Facial Recognition Services in Spain
(Business Travel News Europe, Apr 25, 2024)
The new biometric boarding service, available at six gates at Madrid-Barajas airport and one at Barcelona-El Prat airport, will allow travellers to pass through both security control and the boarding gate “without having to show the necessary documents”, the IAG-owned carrier said.
Say Goodbye to Boarding Passes with Star Alliance’s Facial Recognition
(Business Traveler, Apr 24, 2024)
Passengers at select European airports can now experience a more convenient and contactless entry process, thanks to the Star Alliance‘s decentralized facial recognition technology. By simply scanning their faces, passengers can pass through security and board their aircraft without fumbling in their bags for their boarding passes and passports.
