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More businesses now resorting to BIOMETRICS so that government nannies can literally track everything you do, see and buy

June 20, 2023 - biometric authentication offers several advantages over traditional password-based authentication, such as convenience, accuracy, and security, it also poses significant privacy risks.

One of the main privacy concerns associated with biometrics is the possibility of data breaches. In recent years, there have been numerous high-profile data breaches that have resulted in the theft of personal information, including biometric data. Unlike passwords, as Carlo pointed ...

Biometric data and surveillance: DNA being eyed as the “ultimate global ID”

December 06, 2023 -

Now, there are DNA sequencing devices that can quickly generate DNA profiles (DNA IDs) anywhere using mobile devices and fully automated processes, and those in power are eyeing DNA as a potential global ID.

Your DNA is more precious than gold for technocrats because it is the irreducible structure of all life on the planet.DNA can be abused and used against you

Always be skeptical regardless of the hype for DNA as a global ID. Be wary of allegedly beneficial ...

Target sued for illegally collecting customers’ biometric data through facial scans and fingerprinting

2 days ago -

Target illegally collected and stored customers’ biometric data, including face and fingerprint scans, according to an Illinois woman who filed a class action lawsuit against the Minnesota-based company on behalf of herself and other customers.

Arnetta Dean alleges Target violated Illinois’ BIPA by collecting customers’ data without obtaining written consent or sharing data retention and destruction policies. (Related: Biometric data and surveillance: DNA being eyed as the ...

JPMorgan to launch biometric payment system as next step in Orwellian financial surveillance

a month ago -

The country's biggest bank will be using PopID for the project, a technology that uses facial recognition and other methods to verify the identity of an individual.

Pilot projects are already underway, with one of the first trials taking place at the Formula 1 race in Miami. More trials are planned for this year, with a broad rollout expected to follow next year.

According to JPMorgan, this approach will be safer and quicker than traditional methods of authentication ...

World’s biggest biometric ID system experiences massive breach, impacting 10% of global population

November 07, 2023 -

The system in question is Aadhaar, a biometric digital identity program operated by the Indian government. 1.3 billion people in India are currently enrolled in the program, and around 60 percent were affected by the breach.

It was carried out by an anonymous hacker, who says that the breach left them with sensitive personal data pertaining to 815 million Indian citizens. They are now selling the full set of data for $80,000. It is believed that the source of the leak ...

Starbucks teams up with Amazon to launch BIOMETRIC payment system in certain locations

May 17, 2023 -

According to Reclaim the Net, the program will be launched in selected Starbucks stores in the city of Edmonds in Washington state. The pilot of the Amazon One system will serve as a bellwether to determine whether older people will embrace the new technology.

As of writing, the use of the biometric payment system at Starbucks locations remains voluntary and other payment options are still available. But reception of Amazon One has been mixed so far, with attendants reporting ...

Biometric digital ID numbers and personal identifiable information of approximately 815 million Indians HACKED

November 13, 2023 -

In 2021, the Indian government issued 12-digit unique identity numbers called Aadhaar to its approximately 1.3 billion population. Aadhaar, considered the world's largest biometric digital ID system, was originally designed to provide a unique identification number to each Indian citizen and curb issues related to duplicate, fake or stolen IDs in government programs.

Indian citizens are required to provide demographic information, including name, date of birth, age, ...

Track ’em young: Newborns in Kenya are being used to develop a biometric vaccination management tracking program

May 23, 2023 -

The new system, developed in partnership with the NEC Corporation, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Nagasaki University in 2019, aims to expand its biometric vaccine tracking initiative to ensure accurate and efficient monitoring of immunization records in the first 24 months of the babies' lives. (Related: New baby biometric monitoring devices threaten to disconnect parents from their newborns.)

The project seeks to address paper-based documentation issues ...

Facial recognition program to be rolled out at 16 major U.S. airports, increasing biometric surveillance of Americans

May 21, 2023 -

TSA launches controversial biometric surveillance program

The new biometric surveillance program includes newly-installed kiosks, equipped with cameras. When a passenger approaches the kiosk, he/she must insert their government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport) into the designated slot. Then, the passenger must hold their face still and look into a camera while facial recognition technology scans their face to match their biometrics with their ID. After the person’s face is ...

Israeli intelligence to be granted FULL ACCESS to the National Biometric Database WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS to prevent misuse of information

December 01, 2023 -

Israel's move points to a radical shift in the control of civilian and private biometric data, especially amid the country’s conflict with Hamas.

The series of altered data permissions are being processed by the Knesset, Israel's legislative body, and take the form of regulatory modifications and legislative memos.

This proposes a scenario where, without judicial resistance, the Israeli military, intelligence agencies and law enforcement could be granted greater ...

Australian government to use facial, fingerprint recognition for key online government services in 2024

December 19, 2023 -

The announcement follows the federal government's statement on having to deal with thousands of scam attempts at myGov accounts each month. myGov is an online app used by Australian residents to access different government services, including viewing tax records and accessing healthcare and social welfare.

Australia has recently become the target of a wave of cyberattacks and scamming activities. According to reports, hackers are selling stolen myGov login details on ...

12 US states now using mobile device driver’s licenses that require face scans to prove your identity

August 15, 2023 - biometric authentication.

Amlani said with the ease and accessibility of generative AI tools that can create fake images, "it’s irresponsible for government or business entities to implement any system utilizing remote-based biometrics without the necessary protections against AI-created deepfakes digitally injected into vulnerable camera feeds."

California’s DMV is currently testing a mobile app that allows people to upload MDLs to their phones using iProov’s ...

Xfinity notifies customers of data breach due to “software vulnerability”

January 03, 2024 -

In a notice to customers, Xfinity announced that there was unauthorized access to internal systems because of this vulnerability between Oct. 16 and 19, 2023.

The alleged software vulnerability was previously announced by software provider Citrix.

Xfinity discovered the "suspicious activity on Oct. 25 and in the succeeding months concluded that the hackers "likely acquired" data.

On Dec. 6, Xfinity said the accessed information included customer usernames ...

Manhattan DA warns of MOBILE PAYMENT FRAUD: Two taps and someone’s life savings could be gone

February 26, 2024 -

Reportedly now handling an estimated $1 trillion in payments, Bragg said these apps are exposing its users to scammers and thieves – costing them a lot of their hard-earned cash.

The DA addressed the letters to the parent companies of Venmo, Cash App and Zelle. In his letters, Bragg demanded the app owners and operators "improve their security and protect their users from scams and thefts." He specifically requested that they "impose limits on transactions, require ...

Amazon rolling out PAY-BY-PALM services as new payment tech at all Whole Foods Market stores

July 25, 2023 -

Initially launched in 2021, Amazon One will be fully operational for both payment and Prime membership benefits to more than 500 upscale grocery chain locations in the U.S. by the end of this year. Instead of conventional payment methods, customers will simply hover their palms over an Amazon One device to complete transactions.

The advanced palm recognition technology that creates a unique palm signature for each user, launched one of its newest features – the integration ...

Hackers target 23andMe DNA testing company, gain access to 6.9 MILLION user profiles

December 15, 2023 -

In some cases, the information hackers were able to steal included family trees, birth years and geographic locations, reported 23andMe.

After weeks of speculation, 23andMe publicly acknowledged that more than half of its customers had been affected by the security breach. The DNA testing firm declared that the stolen data did not include DNA records.Hackers accessed 23andMe database using information from other hacks

23andMe is one of the biggest names in the ...

Say goodbye to your privacy: Use of digital IDs in American states is spreading rapidly

July 27, 2023 -

At least eight states already have state-sponsored apps where people can store their digital IDs. These include the Mobile ID app in Arizona, Delaware, Mississippi and Oklahoma and the myColorado app, which provides proof of identification, age and address anywhere in Colorado.

In Louisiana, the LA Wallet serves as the state-sponsored app for storing digital driver's licenses and is considered legal for driving purposes and accepted by state law enforcement in lieu of a ...

Amazon-owned Ring agrees to multimillion settlement with FTC over privacy violations – including SPYING ON CHILDREN

June 05, 2023 -

In a May 31 statement, the FTC said Amazon agreed to settle out of court to avoid being charged by the federal government. The amount involved in the settlement will be used for consumer refunds, it also noted.

A separate report pointed out that the e-commerce giant would be shelling out a total of $30.8 million to settle with the FTC. The additional $25 million was in relation to its Alexa voice assistant storing children's voices and location data, violating child privacy ...

Millions of UK students are using BIOMETRICS for school-related activities without parental consent

August 01, 2023 -

According to King, approximately 4.5 million of of the U.K.'s nine million school children use biometrics for a wide variety of school activities and services. These include library access, canteen payments, locker access and registration. She noted that this use of biometrics has been going on since 2001 without parental consent.

The concerned parent behind the "Against RFID in Schools" and "Biometrics in Schools" blogs has been documenting the rise of radiation frequency ...

Privacy experts warn the public against “digital enslavement” as Amazon launches new app for pay-by-palm services

a month ago -

In the past, individuals had to physically visit a store equipped with Amazon One devices to register for the service. But on March 28, Amazon announced that first-time users of Amazon One pay-by-palm services can now sign up for it from the comfort of their homes or even while working by submitting a photo of their hand to Amazon servers.

Amazon has guaranteed users its convenience while promising retailers benefits such as expedited queues and a smoother in-store experience....