Yemen will use fingerprints and facial recognition biometrics to identify voters in the upcoming constitutional referendum and national elections. TrueVoter is a system that enables the country to deploy and maintain a biometric information system that enables for the fast, accurate, and uncontested enrollment and identification of voters.

LaunchKey released a facial scan biometric for supported iOS and Android devices that works using a device’s camera. The company also enabled WordPress users who have the LaunchKey plugin to access the site using a facial recognition biometric on their mobile device.

Face recognition technology is enabling motorcycle riders in Canada to get a license from the comfort of their home. MSI Motorcycle Safety Institute rolled out an online system for folks to take courses and get a motorcycle license, the Canadian government asked for verification that the online students were who they claimed to be.

Facial recognition biometric technology is showing improvement in one-to-many searches, according to the latest tests from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Results from NIST’s 2013 test of facial recognition algorithms show that accuracy has improved for some up to 30% since 2010.

The American Civil Liberties Union submitted an “Ethical Framework for Facial Recognition” to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration wanting group to follow specific principles when using the technology.

FaceBanx is using a combination of facial and voice biometrics to enable easy login to web sites. Simply look into a web cam, repeat a few random digits and you can be logged into a site or authorized to make a transaction.

Research and Markets has released three reports on the biometric market. The reports look at the use of the identification technology with mobile devices, health care and in emerging markets.

A greater need for security will drive greater adoption of various biometrics for identification. One report looks at the overall market and predicts an 18% growth rate while another looks at palm vein modality and says that market will see a 47% increase.

The Spring issue of Regarding ID magazine is online. Read about exterminating the password, host-card emulation, the British Columbia electronic ID and the basics of one-time password tokens. Find these and more stories in the latest issue Regarding ID magazine.

VoiceVault releases a new voice application for mobile devices; Ping Identity buys contextual-authentication company; Legic upgrades reader chips; Face recognition API from Animetrics; Patient identity partnership using palm vein, FIME NFC Forum approved; Encap partners.