The Weekly Cypher is curated to keep you up-to-date on the latest in biometric and cybersecurity news. Here are a few headlines you may have missed this week.
Chinese and Iranian hackers renew their attacks on US companies | The New York Times
Businesses and government agencies in the United States have been targeted in aggressive attacks by Iranian and Chinese hackers who security experts believe have been energized by President Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal last year and his trade conflicts with China.
There’s no federal standard on facial recognition, Congress should step in | The Washington Post
Facial recognition technology could have many beneficial effects. The software could help stop human trafficking, reunify refugee families and make everyday services — from banking to paying for groceries — safer and faster. But it could come with costs, too, which is why regulators are right to pay attention. There is currently no federal standard on facial recognition, so Congress should step in.
China facial recognition database leak sparks fears over mass data collection |Forbes
A company that operates facial recognition systems in China has exposed the personal information of 2.5 million people after leaving a database unprotected. This was discovered by Dutch cybersecurity researcher Victor Gevers, who works for the GDI Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to reporting security issues.
Schiphol Airport launches pilot for boarding by means of facial recognition |International Airport Review
Passengers traveling with Cathay Pacific can take part in a pilot for boarding by means of facial recognition. This pilot belongs to the first phase of fully enabling travel by means of facial recognition at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the longer term.
As concerns over facial recognition grow, members of Congress are considering their next move |Buzzfeed
The US House Oversight and Reform Committee is considering holding a hearing on facial recognition, which has been widely implemented across the country despite growing concerns about the technology’s potential privacy and civil rights implications. According to Committee Chairman, Rep. Elijah Cummings, the committee is “‘of course’ considering investigating facial recognition technology…[but]…‘we’ve still got to gather our agenda.’” California Rep. Jimmy Gomez note “‘this is a perfect issue for our committee to look into.’”
