Foster and Freeman empower VSC document interrogation
Systems manufacturer of the examination of questioned documents, Foster and Freeman have unveiled a new Video Spectral Comparator. The VSC 8000 provides facilities for the interrogation of documents including passports, travel and identity documents, banknotes, checks, official letters and breeder documents, as well as works of art and other valuable artifacts, said the firm. The new VSC 8000 builds upon technology launched by the company 35 years ago, combining improved multi-spectral LED light sources with sophisticated digital imaging technology. The resulting system enables examiners to verify documents by detecting the presence of hidden security features and to reveal evidence of alterations or tampering that would have previously remained imperceptible to all but the most advanced of examination instruments. The workstation is equipped with an integral motorized XY stage for precise positioning of documents under high magnification, a high-specification spectrometer for accurate color analysis, and a new Super Resolution Imaging (SRI) optical system, which provides image clarity and resolution of documents up to A4/Letter size. The VSC 8000 also introduces Document Specific Workspaces, a range of application focused software environments that provide the tools and functions specific to the document being examined. The VSC8000 can be calibrated using NIST traceable standards (supplied with all systems). Reliable system performance can be verified using simple automated diagnostics (triggered manually or on system start-up) to check the status of motors, light sources and filters.
Jamaica to implement biometric ID by 2020
Jamaica’s Government has announced that the country will install a National Identification System that uses biometrics by 2020. The Office of the Prime Minister confirmed that a framework for the system will be ready in 2015. Officials stated a roadmap to 2020 was in place, indicating the different components with clear specifics. In addition there was a plan to consolidate existing databases such as the taxpayer registration number (TRN) and other current methods of identification – with biometrics definitely playing a part, although the details were as yet undecided. According to the Government, identity theft and cybercrime is an issue that it is paying close attention to. Security is a central part of planning and there is a considerable amount of vetting that is also part of the reason why biometrics is something being studied..
Nigeria signs up 13m citizens for payment ID card pilot
Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission reports that 13 million citizens have been registered for a financial inclusion pilot that has seen them issued with electronic identity cards with Mastercard payment facilities. Upon completion of the pilot program, the NIMC plans to issue more than 100 million cards of the payment card to Nigeria’s 170 million citizens. This would make the project the largest rollout of an electronic payment solution in the country and the broadest financial inclusion program in Africa, according to sources. Using the e-ID as a payment tool, cardholders can deposit funds, save, withdraw cash at ATMs, and pay for goods and services at any of the millions of MasterCard acceptance locations globally or via online shopping portals. Nigerians can also receive funds, including government subsidies, social grants, salaries and other disbursements, electronically. The NIMC stated combining an identity card with MasterCard’s prepaid payment capability creates a game changer as it breaks down the most significant barrier to financial inclusion – proof of identity – while simultaneously enabling Nigerians to access state-of-the-art financial services.
European eID simulation project for HJP Consulting
German eID consultancy HJP Consulting has announced it will provide the simulation environment for smart card functions being developed for the European Union’s Regulation on electronic identities and trust services (eIDAS).
HJP, together with cv cryptovision will also provide selected eIDAS functions on a smart card, with the open-source-based smart card simulator PersoSim, developed by HJP, to be used for the simulation. The European Union (EU) finalized eIDAS in July 2014. It seen as a milestone for the creation of a legal basis for secure electronic transactions between businesses, citizens and governments within the EU. As a part of these activities, the French Agence nationale de la sécurité of systèmes d’information (ANSSI) and the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) are working on the joint smart card specifications based on the technology, which also used in the German ID card (BSI TR-03110). HJP’s simulation environment for simulating the eIDAS functions will be based on BSI TR-03110. PersoSim will be further developed in this project with regards to the eIDAS requirements from BSI TR-03110. cv cryptovision GmbH will implement eIDAS functions on a smart card, whereby cryptovision’s product “ePasslet Suite” provides the substantial parts for the eIDAS functionality.