And we already know how stunningly reliable facecams are:
http://www.politechbot.com/p-03150.html
I'll attach the press release below.
-Declan
---
From: George_at_Orwellian.Org
To: "Declan McCullagh" <declan_at_well.com>
Cc: "notbored" <notbored_at_panix.com>
Subject: Visionics, in the news
Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 05:37:42 -0400
Declan,
A brief blurb on WNBC-TV (NYC) this morning.
The "U.S. Park Police" will protect "NYC tourist sites"
by using Visionics software (donated use) to scan faces,
to be compared against the Feds database of terrorists.
One specific spot mentioned is people waiting to
get on the ferrys to Liberty Island. The camera
setups are obvious deals on tripods, going by
the example shown at an outside site.
No veils allowed? (Soon to be an SCP play? ;-)
A Visionics spokeswoman was interviewed, told how it
works using biometric face capture.
FYI. Not on NBC's web site.
Nice to know our gov isn't ignoring vague threats anymore, eh?
<GROAN>
---
http://ir.shareholder.com/vsnx/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=81358
Enhanced Security Measures to Protect NYC Landmarks Ellis Island and Statue
of Liberty Include Visionics' Facial Recognition System
Visionics Asked to Provide FaceIt®ARGUS System at Gate Entry Ways in
Battery Park Screening Facility for Heightened Security Over Holiday
Weekend
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2002-- Visionics Corporation
(Nasdaq: VSNX), the worldwide leader in identification technologies
and systems, announced today that its latest FaceIt® ARGUS
surveillance system will be used to augment security measures at the
Battery Park Screening Facility in the ferry embarkation area to Ellis
Island and the Statue of Liberty in the New York harbor during this
Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The state of the art system is on loan from Visionics to the United
States Park Police for the holiday weekend and is part of a series of
stepped up security measures that will be visible at New York City
landmarks.
Major Thomas H. Wilkins of the United States Park Police commented,
"Since the tragic events of September 11, our agency has been focused
on preventing future attacks while ensuring everyday life remains as
uninterrupted as possible. Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are
potent symbols of our country's freedoms and it is our mission to make
these landmarks safe for visitors and tourists."
The installation of FaceIt® ARGUS at Battery Park Screening Facility
will encompass the security portal area that precedes the ferry
boarding planks. The system will automatically scan all faces passing
through the entryway and compare them against a database of known
terrorists compiled by federal authorities. The installation will be
in compliance with Visionics' privacy principles---signage informing
the public that the system is in use is posted in corresponding areas
and all non-matches are automatically deleted from the system.
Dr. Joseph J. Atick, chairman and CEO of Visionics Corporation stated,
"We are truly honored to have been asked to participate in enhancing
the security of some of our nation's most cherished landmarks.
Providing our facial recognition technology for the US Park Police is
yet another affirmation of our industry-leading position and we
believe our contribution can help make the Memorial Day holiday
weekend safer for Park visitors. We welcome the opportunity to respond
swiftly and appropriately to the urgent call for heightened security
to help deal with this most recent threat."
On February 22, 2002, Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX) and
Visionics announced that they had entered into a definitive merger
agreement in an effort intended to create the world's leading
multi-biometric security technology company. Upon completion of the
merger, the combined company will be named Identix Incorporated and
will be headquartered in Minnetonka, MN.
The preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the merger
was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Identix and
Visionics on March 18, 2002, and an amended version was deemed
effective by the SEC on May 21, 2002. Investors and stockholders are
urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the
business combination transaction referenced above because it contains
important information. Investors and stockholders may obtain a free
copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed
by Identix and Visionics with the SEC at the SEC web site at
www.sec.gov, Identix' web site at www.identix.com or Visionics' web
site at www.visionics.com.
About Visionics Corporation
Visionics Corporation is the worldwide leader in identification
technologies and systems. The Company is uniquely positioned with a
comprehensive set of biometric identification product offerings:
FaceIt®, live scan, IBIS and BNP. The award-winning core FaceIt®
technology enables a broad range of products and applications built by
partners (OEMs, VARs and system integrators). These include enhanced
CCTV systems, identity fraud applications, and identity verification
systems for physical and network security, travel and banking. The
TENPRINTER, FingerPrinter CMS and Modular live scan systems are the
most widely used by government agencies, law enforcement, airports,
banks and other commercial institutions in the United States. IBIS is
a revolutionary mobile identification system capable of capturing both
forensic quality fingerprints and photographs for transmission and
wireless transmission of data to law enforcement and other legacy
databases for real-time identification. Finally, the BNP is the only
commercially available platform for delivering scalable biometric
solutions. It incorporates FaceIt® technology for implementation over
large-scale networks and real-time identification. The product
offerings are reflective of Visionics' leadership position in the
biometric industry and commitment to the innovation of identification
technologies.
More information on Visionics can be accessed via the Company web site
at http://www.visionics.com or by calling Frances Zelazny, Director
of Corporate Communications at +1 201-332-9213.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected on the basis of such
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made
based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and
information currently available to, management pursuant to the
"safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Among the most significant risks and uncertainties with
respect to the merger between Visionics and Identix are obtaining
regulatory and shareholder approval, fulfilling the conditions set
forth in the Definitive Merger Agreement for the close of the
anticipated transaction, and the timing of the closing of the
transaction. For a more complete description of the risk factors,
which may affect the future performance of Visionics and Identix on an
individual basis, see "Risk Factors" under the respective companies'
annual reports and other periodic SEC filings.
CONTACT:
Bob Gallagher,
Chief Financial Officer,
952-932-0888
Frances Zelazny,
Director of Corporate Communications,
201-332-9213
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Received on May 24 2002
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