ID Tech Digest – March 12, 2025
Welcome to ID Tech’s digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
Swedish Migration Agency Seeks Info for 40M SEK ABIS Project
Sweden’s Migration Agency has issued an RFI for an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to modernize identity verification in migration management. The project, valued at 40 million SEK, aims to integrate fingerprint, facial recognition, and iris scanning with existing border control and asylum systems. Vendors must submit responses via TendSign by March 20, 2025. The initiative aligns with EU procurement standards and broader European border security efforts, paving the way for a formal tender process.
Regula Turns IDV Hardware Into Fashion at Milan Show
Regula showcased a creative fusion of fashion and technology at the Intergraf Currency+Identity conference, transforming components of its document verification tools into wearable accessories. The presentation highlighted forensic devices like molded lenses and magnifiers integrated into fashion pieces. The event coincides with Regula’s rapid growth, with its global user base expanding by 52% to 152 million online users.
Famoco and TECH5 Partner to Launch Contactless Biometric Payment Device
Famoco and TECH5 have partnered to integrate TECH5 's T5-AirSnap contactless biometric capture technology into Famoco’s FX206 mobile payment device. The FX206, an Android-based solution, enables touchless facial and fingerprint biometrics without additional hardware, making it ideal for telecom, finance, and government applications. The device supports remote management and aims to streamline SIM registration, identity verification, and digital onboarding.
UK Border Force Tests iProov’s Vehicle Passenger Face Scanning at Ports
The UK Home Office has completed trials with iProov to test facial comparison technology for identifying passengers in vehicles at maritime ports. Conducted from December 2024 to February 2025, the trials aimed to capture high-quality facial images and securely link passenger identities to vehicles. The initiative responds to growing cybersecurity concerns in biometric verification and aligns with global efforts to modernize border security.
Judge Rejects Neutrogena’s Healthcare Defense in Facial Scan Privacy Lawsuit
A federal judge has allowed a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson’s Kenvue unit to proceed, rejecting its claim that the Neutrogena Skin360 facial-scanning service qualifies for a healthcare exemption under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit alleges Kenvue collected and stored facial scans without proper consent, violating BIPA’s strict biometric data regulations. The decision reinforces the growing legal scrutiny of corporate biometric practices, with potential implications for consumer applications using facial scanning in the beauty and skincare industry.
Bahrain’s Batelco Launches Biometric Digital ID System for Mobile Services
Batelco has integrated eKey 2.0, a biometric-based digital identity solution, into its services to enhance secure customer onboarding via facial recognition. The system, accessible through Batelco’s mobile app, streamlines identity verification and is set to expand into e-commerce authentication. eKey 2.0 is also being adopted across Bahrain’s public sector, including Bahrain Post and the National e-Government Portal, reinforcing the country’s push for a secure and seamless digital ecosystem.
Spain Unveils Strict AI Content Rules with €35M Fines for Unlabeled Material
Spain’s government has approved strict AI legislation imposing fines of up to €35 million or 7% of global turnover for failing to label AI-generated content. The law, aligning with the EU AI Act, introduces national enforcement mechanisms, including AESIA, a new supervisory agency. It also bans AI-driven subliminal manipulation and biometric profiling. Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez framed the law as a safeguard against deepfakes and misinformation. The bill now heads to Spain’s lower house for final approval.
Biotricity Patents New Convertible Biometric Monitor for Remote Patient Care
Biotricity Inc. has secured 14 new patents for its remote patient monitoring technology, bringing its total to 15, with 14 more pending. The patents cover a multi-biometric device platform that can switch between a patch and a watch, enhancing flexibility for medical providers. The system allows simultaneous diagnostic studies, such as cardiac and sleep monitoring, improving efficiency and reimbursement potential. Biotricity plans further patent expansions through 2026 to solidify its position in remote patient monitoring.
Italy Opens High-Tech Visa Center in China with Advanced Biometric Systems
Italy has opened a new visa application center in Guangzhou, China, featuring biometric data collection to streamline Schengen visa processing. The facility captures applicants’ fingerprints and photographs, aligning with the EU’s push for standardized biometric data collection. The launch follows Italy’s recent mandatory fingerprinting for long-term visas and comes ahead of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout in October, which will replace manual passport stamping with automated biometric checks at Schengen borders.
–
March 12, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy and Alex Perala