biometrics - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Software uses fingerprint to launch apps, log in

  Taiwanese software manufacturer EgisTec is showing a product here at CES that lets you use your laptop's built-in fingerprint reader to launch applications, manage passwords and encrypt files.

• RTA deploys facial recognition

  A rollout of facial recognition technology across the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority has been completed, following a spate of identity fraud costing the state some $3.5 billion a year.

• International airports to get new ePassport readers

  Up to 400 new ePassport document readers will be rolled out across Australia’s airports as part of an Australian Customs and Border Protection Service IT upgrade.

• Biometrics sweep NSW gaols

  The NSW Department of Corrective Services will implement mandatory iris scanning and fingerprinting across its 32 prisons to help verify visitor identities.

• Busted: the NSW Police crime fighting toolkit

  NSW Police will have access to a new forensic information database within nine months along with a suite of centralised records management and field imaging systems.

• Interpol fingers Aust for poor support

  An Interpol chief has scolded Australian law enforcement for contributing "almost nothing" to the global fingerprint database used by 100 countries to track criminals across the world.

• Defence trials sneaky cameras

  The Defence Science Technology Organisation (DSTO) is running facial recognition trials which will underpin biometric initiatives across the Department of Defence, Immigration and new smartcard driver's licences.
  

• QLD to get smart licences next year

  Queensland Transport has inked a five-year deal with Unisys to design and build a facial recognition and biometric matching platform for the state's smartcard drivers' licence.
  

• Finger print scanners latest weapon for NSW police

  The NSW government has spent more than $5 million issuing police with portable digital fingerprint scanners to stop criminals weaseling out of fines, arrest warrants, court appearances and breaches of bail.

• Biometric passports agreed to in EU

  The European Parliament signed up to a plan Wednesday to introduce computerized biometric passports including people's fingerprints as well as their photographs, despite criticism from civil liberties groups and security experts who argue that the move is flawed on technical grounds.