28 August, 2006
category: Biometrics, Government
Massachusetts recently implemented Digimarc’s upgraded Biometric Identification 2.0, a system that helps ensure that individuals applying for a driver license do not already have one under a different identity. This is accomplished using facial recognition technologies that match an applicant’s new portrait to the agency’s database of issued licenses to identify potential duplicates.
Digimarc delivers powerful new tools to stop identity theft and fraud and related crimes
Beaverton, Ore. – Digimarc Corporation announced the availability of version 2.0 of the powerful and proven Digimarc Biometric Identification solution. Drawing on successful deployment in states such as Alabama, Colorado, and Kansas, where Digimarc Biometric Identification stops thousands of attempts at driver license fraud and identity theft each year, this next-generation solution delivers new enhancements to accelerate searching, coordinate investigations, and stop driver license fraud.
Massachusetts recently completed a successful implementation of Biometric Identification 2.0, and Oregon and Texas have placed orders for the solution. Digimarc Biometric Identification 2.0 helps ensure that individuals applying for a driver license have not already been issued a valid license under another name or identity. This is accomplished using sophisticated facial recognition technologies that match an applicant’s new portrait to the agency’s database of licensing images to identify potential duplicates.
Biometric Identification 2.0, which was developed with input from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and the Massachusetts State Police, allows those two agencies to run the 4,000 to 5,000 applicant images taken daily against the RMV’s database of approximately 10 million images. Investigators review all matches, typically ruling out fraud in 5 to 10 seconds. So far, Digimarc Biometric Identification has detected minors who have obtained a duplicate license in order to buy alcohol, individuals whose licenses have been revoked or suspended, and career criminals who use multiple identities to evade capture and arrest.
“Facial recognition technology is helping Massachusetts achieve the goal of reducing license and ID fraud,” said Anne L. Collins, Registrar, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. “The program’s efficiency allows a small number of investigators to quickly detect suspected fraud and provides required data that drives effective follow-up investigation by law enforcement.”
“Digimarc was the first company in the industry to offer driver license issuers facial recognition solutions to ensure that only one license is issued to a driver,” said J. Scott Carr, executive vice president, Digimarc. “Today, we are pleased to offer a new generation of Biometric Identification products that give driver license issuers, investigators and law enforcement a set of fast, easy-to-use tools to accurately and reliably compare all new applicant portraits with images in the driver license database and catch any attempts at multiple ID fraud.”
When combined with tools to verify the documents and data presented as proof of an applicant’s identity, biometric identification gives driver license issuers a complete solution to secure the enrollment and issuance process. Every day Digimarc biometric solutions make 163 billion facial recognition comparisons to filter out and stop thousands of attempts of driver license fraud annually.
Digimarc Biometric Identification 2.0 can be implemented as part of a central issuance system to stop issuance of a driver license before fraud is committed; or within an over-the-counter issuance environment, as a post-issuance investigative tool to track down and prosecute identity theft.
For more information on Digimarc Biometric Identification 2.0, please visit: www.digimarc.com/biometric_identification.
About Digimarc
Digimarc Corporation, based in Beaverton, Oregon, is a leading supplier of secure identity and media management solutions. Digimarc provides products and services that enable the annual production of more than 60 million personal identification documents, including two-thirds of U.S. driver licenses and IDs for more than 20 countries.