San Francisco has passed the first facial recognition ban by a major U.S. city. But tech firms and businesses are beginning to fight back against laws that could restrict biometric authentication.

The facial recognition technology from IDEMIA beat out a large group of other vendors’ technology in a recent NIST trial— and the win comes as biometrics take more of a role in all facets of authentication.

Facial recognition is increasingly being deployed to tighten security, improve authentication, and streamline payment and retail transactions. But an ordinance in San Francisco — the first of its kind — would ban its use by city government, potentially restricting police from using evidence gained from the biometric tool.

UK police are nearing a full evaluation of their biometric ID technology after the latest test in a series of facial recognition trials conducted using video surveillance systems. The most recent test successfully identified suspects during the holiday shopping season.

Facial recognition and fingerprints are already used to authenticate travelers at airports and border crossings. Now, Hertz is launching biometric checkout at car rental lots — the latest example of digital ID coming to the automotive world.

As 2018 came to a close, a judge dismissed the case alleging Google had violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting and storing facial biometrics without user consent. Under debate was Google’s use of facial recognition software that scanned images stored in Google Photos in an attempt to identify subjects thus automating […]

The case involves the use of biometric authentication technology that, among other things, helps the social media operator serve up personalized ads based on consumers’ moods. The practice allegedly ran afoul of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

U.K.-based iProov thinks so, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has made a bet that the biometric authentication firm is right. The technology, which works on users’ mobile devices and is anchored to data stored on remote serves, could help boost protection for hundreds of border crossings.

A pilot program in three Chinese cities enables citizens to put digital versions of the country’s national ID card on a popular smartphone payment app operated by e-commerce giant Alibaba. The move follows a similar program that involves a Chinese social media platform.

Biometric technology is taking another step forward in the auto industry with the introduction of a system meant to reduce accidents that stem from distracted driving. The Subaru launch comes as other carmakers seek to use biometrics not only for safety, but ID and driver convenience.