New ID document scanning technologies address security, privacy concerns

Four newly unveiled ID document and barcode scanning products promise improved efficiency, privacy, and security while addressing the growing demand for contactless solutions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Computer vision provider Smart Engines promises to detect ID fraud with its new Smart ID Engine, which uses an AI-driven liveness detection program that can run on any platform. Similarly, Microblink’s new BlinkID software promises high efficiency, privacy, and versatility in reading nearly any ID in the world. Scanner manufacturer CANMAX recently introduced its line of Swan passport scanners, a contact-less and flexible scanner with cross-industry applications. In the MARSEC sector, MCR designer and manufacturer MozaicID address federal TWIC ID reader compliance with its new handheld device.

Smart Engines introduces document liveness detection for ID scanners

Smart Engines’ new OCR identity scanning software Smart-ID Engine can detect holographic security elements on ID cards, providing increased privacy protection and high accuracy fraud detection, applying the concept of liveness detection to identity documents.

According to Smart Engines, its AI-based algorithms allow detecting liveness for 1,300 different ID cards, passports, and driving licenses from 193 countries. Smart ID Engine extracts data in video streams, photos, and scans to detect fraudulent documents. The solution is ‘passive,’ in that the user is not required to perform an action for forged documents, photocopies, or images of an ID document on a device screen to be detected.

Smart ID Engine complies with GDPR and CCPA privacy guidelines as it does not transmit or store any user data, according to the announcement. The system can be deployed as a stand-alone solution on servers and desktops or handheld devices such as smartphones. Additionally, Smart-ID Engine will not transmit client data to third parties, as it does not require a network connection to operate.

The new software promises cross-platform compatibility as its SDK is optimized for ARM, x86_64, x86, MIPS, and SPARC architectures and is compatible with iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS, and Solaris operating systems.

Microblink introduces BlinkID AI-driven ID scanning for web browsers

Microblink’s BlinkID In-browser AI-driven SDK promises to recognize nearly any ID document in the world. It does so by extracting all of its needed information from either the MRZ, barcode, or the Visual Inspection Zone (VIZ). This, in turn, allows for fast and seamless online registration, eliminating the need for manual data entry.

BlinkID is GDPR-compliant as it introduces another layer of security against privacy risks, the company says. It prevents breaches such as man-in-the-middle attacks through in-browser processing and offline functionality. Accordingly, user data is never stored or transmitted to third-parties.

According to Microblink, the software is compatible with any WASM-supporting browser but performs best on the latest versions of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

CANMAX launches the contact-less Swan passport reader

Taiwanese barcode scanner designer and manufacturer CANMAX is planning to unveil Swan, a series of multi-functional scanners at various electronics conventions including COMPUTEX 2021.

Swan offers diverse, affordable solutions for non-contact passport scanning, aiming to replace traditional contact-scanning which often results in bent passports or documents. Additionally, CANMAX promises to provide the necessary non-contact and self-service barcode scanning solutions as COVID-19 has raised the need for unmanned services.

The Swan 1D and 2D passport readers promise high reading performance thanks to a CMOS sensor capable of 60fps. The light-weight and compact design also allow reading head angle adjustment for maximum operational flexibility.

The Swan Passport Reader is now widely incorporated with system integrators by the hotel industry, currency exchange, and traveler tax refund applications in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. CANMAX sales director Euginia Chang stated: “At present, CANMAX is moving towards the creativity and customization of barcode machine solutions, and hopes to cooperate with major international manufacturers and system integrators.”

MozaicID unveils MCR compliant with U.S. Coast Guard reader rule

MozaicID’s stand-alone MCR promises to provide automated instant access modes for all MARSEC levels compliant with the U.S. Coast Guard’s TWIC reader rule coming into effect December 31, 2020.

The reader is capable of reading TWIC, CAC, PIV, PIV-I and can be adapted to other forms of smart card technology-based digital IDs including biometric passports and mobile Driver’s Licenses.

MozaicID MCR offers automatic, off-site report archiving, fulfilling TSA and U.S. Coast Guard 2-year archive requirements. Additionally, reports are pre-formatted to TSA and U.S. Coast Guard standards.

According to the company, the MozaicID MCR was created to replace the legacy MCR MaxID iDL500, which will no longer be TWIC compliant as of December 31, 2020.

Article Topics

biometric passport  |  biometrics  |  contactless biometrics  |  digital identity  |  document reader  |  identity document  |  Microblink  |  privacy  |  Smart Engines