New biometric feature is a snoop too far, say critics
The new biometrics feature in Norway’s BankID system has an ominous overtone, according to privacy watchdog Reclaim The Net. Could this be the last step in the surveillance society’s secret plan to impose a form of digital ID on the public? In a report the human rights campaigner reports on the wider implications of the omnipresence of BankID which works with all banks in Norway and is currently used by 4.3 million people, out of a population of 5.5 million.
A partnership with OneSpan will provide BankID with additional features, namely additional security, to help Norwegian banks meet compliance standards and prepare BankID for international use. The worry for privacy protectors stems from the fact, as reported in Biometric Update, the partnership also provides digital signing, user authentication, transaction security and mobile identity provisioning.
“BankID is, and will continue to remain, a central part of our users’ daily lives,” explained Jan Bjerved, head of Norway’s BankID, who likened the technology to alchemy. “We are strong believers in creating magic for the users in terms of experience, with as little friction as possible and users feeling safe and secure when using our services. Our trust in OneSpan is based on their proven solutions that ensure we provide the highest level of security to our entire population,” said Bjerved.
The new application’s supports for biometric authentication has a more ominous outcome, claimed Reclaim The Net: it could be used as a digital ID. It’s all perfectly innocent, according to the banking industry. “The new app will allow better communication with the users, and the ambition is to develop the app to become a digital identity wallet that offers a range of value-adding services in the future,” said Bjerved.
OpenSpan’s CEO Matthew Moynahan backed Bjerved’s assertion that BankID is being used purely for social harmony through seamless digital identity. “In a world where the highest levels of assurance are required to establish users’ identities, our partnership with BankID lays the foundation for the future,” said Moynahan. Whose future? The technology’s it transpires. BankID underpins “secure digital identity platforms” and “unlocks a new world of experiences that can now include cross-border transactions.”