Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

100K signup for registered traveler

Thursday, April 3, 2008

The American Association of Airline Executives recently processed its 100,000th passenger enrollment. The AAAes Central Information Management System (CIMS) operates a network that links airports running the Transportation Security Administration’s Registered Traveler programs.

The CIMS enables approved service providers to deliver interoperable RT services at participating airports across the country so a passenger can enroll in any providers program and use all of the RT lanes around the country. The CIMS is responsible for several RT functions, including processing all records, interfacing with the TSA for background checks, ensuring a chain of trust from vetted enrollments and issued credentials, and sending alerts to all service providers regarding revoked credentials.

Currently, AAAE, through its Transportation Security Clearinghouse (TSC) subsidiary, has agreements with five RT service providers. Three of them, Verified Identity Pass, Unisys, and Vigilant, offer RT services at a total of 17 U.S. airports. [end] 

Morpho announced that Australia’s Customs and Border Protection Service signed a five year agreement for service of the SmartGate automated biometric security checkpoint solution.

The SmartGate technology operates in real-time utilizing facial recognition hardware that compares the captured data of a traveler to the data contained on the chip embedded on his e-passport. Australian Customs and Border Protection Service says that implementation of Morpho’s solution has proven to be a successful way for Australian Border Protection agents to cope with growing traveler numbers while improving traveler experience at borders and maintaining the high-levels of security they demand.  

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Privacy advocates in Canada have been raising concerns over the risk involved in two new biometric programs from the government that result in the sharing of private biometric data with other countries’ governments and possibly private corporations, according to an Embassy Magazine article.

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Thinking of changing your mag stripe campus ID card to contactless? Campus card provider CBORD may be able to help. The company is offering a free webinar March 27 that will enable participants to learn the latest about contactless credentials for colleges and universities.

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The Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council has published a white paper examining how the transit industry can best make use of NFC technology.

“One of the major challenges facing transit agencies today is how to capitalize on the ever-growing popularity of mobile phones with a solid mobile strategy,” said Transportation Council Chairman Craig Roberts. “This white paper builds on the knowledge base developed in earlier white papers to foster a greater understanding of NFC technology, explain its role in the transit industry, and shed light on key issues facing the transit industry in developing a mobile strategy.”

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Biometrics enable expedited border screening

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Global Entry program is expanding enabling enrolled U.S. citizens to enjoy expedited screening when returning from travel abroad to a number of domestic airports. The program also makes them eligible to participate in similar programs at foreign airports.

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The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), the state run bus service in Maharashtra, India, has adopted a smart card ticketing system to replace its existing paper passes for transit buses.

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