ID Checks Research Articles

Age Verification Systems Will Be a Personal Identifiable Information Nightmare

Online ID checking is insecure, bad for privacy, and will not help children.

UK police set to run facial ID checks on 50 million citizens

UK police set to run facial ID checks on 50 million citizens

A monitoring and site visit intervention to reduce sales to minors at packaged liquor outlets.

Selling alcohol to a minor is a serious offence in the New South Wales Liquor Act. However, minors report they can purchase alcohol easily. This study used an intersectoral partnership between the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) Health Promotion Service, and Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) Compliance Operations to test a site visit intervention to increase ID checks at packaged liquor outlets (PLOs). As the current legislative framework does not allow minors to attempt to purchase alcohol from PLOs, even under compliance operations, this study employed pseudo-minors aged 18-19 years. Pseudo-minors visited all PLOs on the Central Coast, NSW in four survey rounds, attempting to purchase alcohol without ID. If a PLO sold alcohol to the pseudo-minor, they received a visit from a Health Promotion Officer and L&GNSW Inspector to inform them of the sale and that they are at risk of selling alcohol to a minor. Site visits were an effective intervention to increase the rates of ID checking. Alcohol sales to pseudo-minors without ID decreased from 34% in Round 1 to 7% in Round 4. Young sales staff and independent stores were less likely to check ID. This intervention was associated with some of the lowest rates of underage alcohol purchasing reported to date. However, it may not be sustainable in the long term. It is recommended that: future studies randomise site visits to investigate their contribution to the observed reduction, cost effectiveness of the intervention is explored and legislative change to allow controlled purchase operations for alcohol is considered. SO WHAT?: Young people under 18 years of age should not be able to purchase alcohol from liquor licence outlets, and strong laws apply if a sale is detected. However, despite these rules, young people still report they can access alcohol in this manner. Whilst our intervention of site visits with the regulatory body saw decreases in sales to our pseudo-minors, we advocate for controlled purchase operations (similar to tobacco control) as a more sustainable and effective intervention to reduce sales to minors - while this is not yet legislated for packaged liquor outlets in Australia, it is deemed best practice in other countries.

Rates of Age Verification for Cigarette and E-cigarette Purchases as a Function of State T21 Laws Before and After Implementation of the Federal T21 Law in the United States.

In the US, having a 21 minimum legal sales age for tobacco (T21) at the state level may have impacted age verification of cigarette and e-cigarette purchases among U.S. young adults (ages 18-26), before and/or after federal T21 implementation. This study examined this by analyzing data from cigarette and/or e-cigarette users (n = 618 and n = 864) in six metropolitan areas in six states. Participants reported frequency of being age verified ("almost always" vs. less frequently) for cigarette and/or e-cigarette purchases across 3 timepoints (ie, wave 1 [w1]: September-December 2018, w2: September-December 2019, and w3: September-December 2020). Multilevel modeling examined time-varying state T21 status and time (reflecting federal T21 implementation) in relation to age verification of cigarette and e-cigarette purchases, respectively. The proportions almost always age verified for cigarette purchases in states with T21 versus without were: W1: 38.5% versus 37.7%, w2: 33.0% versus 39.1%, and w3: 45.4% versus 30.6%. For e-cigarettes, the proportions were: W1: 30.6% versus 40.3%, w2: 42.3% versus 50.5%, and w3: 56.0% versus 58.3%. In multilevel modeling, state T21 status was associated with greater likelihood of age verification for e-cigarettes (aOR = 1.67, CI = 1.13 to 2.45), but not for cigarettes. Age verification increased over time for e-cigarettes-both accounting for and not accounting for state T21 status. There were no changes for cigarettes. State T21 status and time correlated with age verification for e-cigarettes, but not cigarettes. These self-reported age verification data contribute to evidence from compliance checks, indicating that retailers require additional prompts and enforcement to enhance compliance with T21 laws. Current findings suggest that variations in regulations and gaps in enforcement may hinder the potential impact of increasing the minimum legal sales age, which ultimately may undermine the promise of such policies, specifically with regard to preventing tobacco use among the underage. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor retailer compliance with T21 laws and evaluate their efficacy to increase ID checks, minimize illegal sales, and curb underage use of tobacco. Relatedly, particular attention to enforcement efforts that may promote compliance is warranted.

Narita Airport's journey for establishing an end-to-end biometric passenger experience

The paper shares the experience, challenges and efforts to introduce expedited pre-boarding passenger at Narita Airport through digital technology under the impact of COVID-19. The digitalised ‘Fast Travel’ processing enables more stringent ID checks with consistency, improved efficiency and customer experience using biometric and automation technology to achieve the following improvements in customer experience triggered by a survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The paper also covers pending issues, such as the lack of stress testing and identification of issues that require improvement to serve a larger mass traffic volume as cross-border travel restarts around the world. It is hoped that the contents of the paper may contribute to inspire airports and stakeholders around the world to jointly establish a digitalised pre-boarding procedure that is globally interoperable with a standardised processing and synchronisation of datasets that is protected by a holistic security framework.

FIDO launches new standard for selfie-based ID checks

FIDO launches new standard for selfie-based ID checks

Compliance Checks Decrease Cigarette Sales Rates to Pseudo-Underaged Mystery Shoppers: A Quasi-Experimental Control Group Study.

To control adherence to age limits regarding sales of tobacco products, Swedish authorities can conduct compliance checks. Compliance checks involve prior information to all retailers, mystery shopping, and subsequent feedback to the retailers. This study investigated whether compliance checks can decrease the rates of cigarette sales to underaged adolescents. Test purchases of cigarettes were conducted using pseudo-underaged mystery shoppers, i.e., 18-year-old adolescents with a younger appearance not carrying ID, to measure the refusal rate and rate of ID checks. Test purchases were conducted at 257 retail outlets in 13 municipalities in Stockholm County at baseline 2017 and follow-up 2019, respectively. In between the measurements, six municipalities (intervention area) conducted compliance checks, and seven municipalities were used as a comparison. Comparing baseline and follow-up, rates of refusal (70.4 to 95.8%) and ID checks (80.3 to 95.8%) improved in the intervention area. In the comparison area, refusal rates increased (80.9 to 85.2%), and ID check rates remained stable (at 86.1%). Significant group × time interaction effects reveal that the rates of refusal and ID checks differently changed in the study areas over time. These results indicate that compliance checks are an effective method to decrease cigarette sales to underaged adolescents.

Assessment and Recognition of MOOCs: The State of the Art

Verification of learner identity is increasingly important for online education in examination and proctoring, and the Covid-19 pandemic has encouraged many institutions to move to online examinations at scale. This paper reviews state of the art approaches to ID verification, recognition and assessment in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). Desktop research included research publications, grey literature and MOOC platforms to identify current practices. The main focus was on public data from course pages on MOOC platforms, particularly courses that had been grouped to offer a single academic program, Four approaches are identified: basic ID checks, checks made by the university, proctoring and various types of interview. Our review demonstrates the absence of any universal approach. However, the emergent picture shows increasing co-ordination across relevant stakeholders (including higher education institutions, employment services and the private sector). Several more coordinated strategies (such as Europe’s Common Microcredential Framework) are highlighted. There remain significant challenges for online proctoring, including overcoming learner preferences and meeting the increased resourcing needed for human-led processes of identity verification. There remain significant ethical challenges regarding the use of learner data (especially biometrics). MOOC platforms would likely benefit from adopting strategies that are well-established in higher education institutions such as plagiarism checking software and pedagogies like e-portfolios.

Distributive justice and police legitimacy: the demographic and geographical distribution of police ID checks in Spain

The distribution of police activity throughout society is a key issue for distributive justice and police legitimacy. This article presents two studies on the distribution of police identification checks in Catalonia (Spain) using data provided by Mossos d’Esquadra (the Catalan Regional Police). The first study explores the demographic distribution of ID checks, in other words, which groups of people are more likely to be stopped and have their identification checked by police. The second study examines the geographical distribution, that is, in which places are there greater concentrations of ID checks. The results show that with regards to demographics, men, young people and foreign people are associated with higher levels of ID checks. In addition, the geographical distribution is not primarily driven by crime rates, thus, in general, it seems that the distribution of ID checks is not as strongly related to crime as may be expected.

You May Enter: automated ID checks face scrutiny [Olympic Games Facial Recognition

This article discusses the use of a contactless AI-driven facial-recognition system being used for ID checks and queue management at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. This will be used for staff, volunteers, athletes and media who have already given their consent, not the general public. The system is based on NEC NeoFace Watch technology, and uses generalised matching face detection method, along with an artificial neural network model called the generalised learning vector quantisation algorithm, to search and select facial features for facial matching. The perturbation space method then coverts the two-dimensional images into three dimensions, allowing rotation of the candidates head. Further processing with illumination filters and adaptive regional blend matching method, minimises the impact of local changes such as hats etc. providing a better photograph match against a central database image. An IC chip embedded security lanyard pass, containing personal ID and authentication details will also be used. Data privacy concerns are discussed, especially due to the current use of NEC technology in criminal surveillance applications, with the Tokyo 2020 organisation responding with a promise to comply with local privacy law. Possibilities of using the technology to enhance Covid-19 security and aid in contact-tracing for the event is also discussed.

청소년이 배달음식점을 통한 주류구매 시 나이 확인 여부와 언어네트워크를 활용한 청소년 음주조장환경에 관한 인식

Purpose: This study explored the physical availability of alcoholic beverages to adolescents through online liquor sales, based on a semantic network analysis. Method: Two methods were used: 1) first, an experimental study was conducted of 300 restaurants with app and phone delivery to verify whether the IDs of adolescents were checked when purchasing alcoholic beverages; then, 2) focus group interviews with two groups (adolescent drinkers and adolescent non-drinkers) were carried out to explore characteristics of the physical availability of alcoholic beverages to adolescents, drinking motives, alcohol advertising, and drinking behaviors. Differences in ID checks in the Seoul area, delivery application type, day of the week, and delivery food type were analyzed using a frequency analysis test. A semantic network analysis was used to investigate the relationship between keywords. The network characteristics were identified using a community analysis. Results: Only 14.7% of online sales checked whether an ID or guardian was present. Thirty-seven and 20 meaningful keywords were extracted from the texts of adolescent drinkers and non-drinkers, respectively, and the community analysis revealed four sub-communities: 1) peer inluences, alcohol advertisement, physical availability of alcohol, and liquor sales for adolescent drinkers and 2) physical availability of alcohol, Alcohol temptations, alcohol-related images, and online liquor sales for non-drinkers. Keywords gave the impression of a tolerant drinking culture. The adolescents’ alcohol use was associated with the ease of physically obtaining alcohol, their positive perceptions of alcohol, family factors, peer influences, and social and cultural aspects of alcohol consumption in general. Although alcohol should not be explicitly sold to adolescents, the results of this study confirmed that it was easy for adolescents to purchase alcoholic beverages. They also confirmed that the main channel for adolescents to experience drinking or to come into contact with alcoholic beverages was the family environment, i.e., their parents’ tolerant attitude toward alcohol. Conclusion: Therefore, for the prevention of drinking among adolescents, targeting only adolescents is not effective, and a campaign to raise awareness and change the overall drinking culture of society is needed.

Understanding the document bias in face matching.

Matching unfamiliar faces is a well-studied task, apparently capturing important everyday decisions such as ID checks. In typical laboratory studies, participants make same/different judgements to pairs of faces, presented in isolation and without context. However, it has recently become clear that matching faces embedded in documents (e.g., passports and driving licences) induces a bias, resulting in elevated levels of “same person” responses. While practically important, it remains unclear whether this bias arises due to expectations induced by the ID cards or interference between textual information and faces. Here, we observe the same bias when faces are embedded in blank (i.e., non-authoritative) cards carrying basic personal information, but not when the same information is presented alongside a face without the card (Experiments 1 and 2). Cards bearing unreadable text (blurred or in an unfamiliar alphabet) do not induce the bias, but those bearing arbitrary (non-biographical) words do (Experiments 3 and 4). The results suggest a complex basis for the effect, relying on multiple factors which happen to converge in photo-ID.

Sales of cigarettes to pseudo-underage mystery shoppers: Experiences from Stockholm County.

Aims:There is an 18 years age limit for cigarette purchase in Sweden and in order to implement this law outlets need to perform ID checks. This study investigates the rate of cigarette sales and ID checks when pseudo-underage mystery shoppers attempted to purchase cigarettes. It explores possible factors associated with sales outcomes.Design:Nine mystery shoppers (6 females and 3 males) attempted to purchase cigarettes without providing ID. The mystery shoppers were 18 years old but had a younger appearance as judged by an expert panel. During each attempt, the adolescents worked in pairs (shopper and observer). A total of 320 outlets in 13 municipalities in Stockholm County were randomly selected based on an outlet type stratum (i.e., gas station, convenience store, kiosk, grocery store). Effects of variables on sales outcomes were analysed using Pearson’s chi-square and binominal regression analysis.Results:In 25.4% of the purchase attempts (total n = 287), cigarettes were sold although the pseudo-underage mystery shopper did not provide a valid ID. In 82.6% of the attempts, the shopper was asked to provide ID, and cigarettes were sold in 9.7% of these cases. The rate of sales was significantly higher among female mystery shoppers (29.5%) compared to male (15.0%). Age limit signs were observed in 89.5% of the outlets but they were not significantly associated with the success rate in a regression analysis.Conclusions:The results of the present study indicate that cigarettes could potentially and frequently be sold to underage adolescents by outlets within Stockholm County. Therefore, routines established for checking IDs clearly need to be improved. For example, strategies to improve adherence to the legal age limit on the purchase of cigarettes, such as compliance checks using mystery shopping with feedback to retailers, are needed.

Randomized Trial Testing an Online Responsible Vendor Training in Recreational Marijuana Stores in the United States

An online training in responsible marijuana vendor (RMV) practices was evaluated for effects on compliance with ID checking regulations. A random sample of state-licensed recreational marijuana stores (n = 175) in Colorado and Washington State was selected in 2016-2017 and was enrolled in a randomized pretest-posttest controlled design. After baseline assessment, 75 stores were randomly assigned to a usual and customary training control group, stratified by state and region. The remaining stores (n = 100) were invited to use the RMV training. Stores were posttested at 3 and 9 months postrandomization. The primary outcome was refusal of sale measured with pseudo-underage patrons who attempted to enter stores and purchase cannabis without a state-approved ID. There was no difference by treatment group in refusal of pseudo-underage patron buyers (baseline: 92.5% intervention vs. 94.7% control; 3-month posttest 94.8% vs. 97.5%; 9-month posttest 97.5% vs. 97.1%, p = .286 [one tailed, adjusted for covariates]). The use of training increased refusals at store entry (trained: 65.9% baseline 82.5%, 3 months 79.9%, 9 months; not trained: 82.6%, 83.1%, 84.5%, p = .020 [two tailed, adjusted for covariates]). This difference was especially evident in Washington State (trained: 40.3%, 65.1%, 60.4%; not trained: 57.9%, 68.5%, 72.3%) but not in Colorado (trained: 95.2%, 101.0%, 101.4; not trained: 95.7%, 98.6%, 99.2%, p = .033 [two tailed, adjusted for covariates]). When used by store personnel, online RMV training increased refusal of buyers who appeared young and did not provide a state-approved ID. However, it did not improve refusal rates overall. Stores that had lower refusals at baseline and used the training may have benefited from it.

Misinformation debunking and cross-platform information sharing through Twitter during Hurricanes Harvey and Irma: a case study on shelters and ID checks

As the internet and social media continue to become increasingly used for sharing breaking news and important updates, it is with great motivation to study the behaviors of online users during crisis events. One of the biggest issues with obtaining information online is the veracity of such content. Given this vulnerability, misinformation becomes a very dangerous and real threat when spread online. This study investigates misinformation debunking efforts and fills the research gap on cross-platform information sharing when misinformation is spread during disasters. The false rumor “immigration status is checked at shelters” spread in both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in 2017 and was analyzed in this paper based on a collection of 12,900 tweets. By studying the rumor control efforts made by thousands of accounts, we found that Twitter users respond and interact the most with tweets from verified Twitter accounts, and especially government organizations. Results on sourcing analysis show that the majority of Twitter users who utilize URLs in their postings are employing the information in the URLs to help debunk the false rumor. The most frequently cited information comes from news agencies when analyzing both URLs and domains. This paper provides novel insights into rumor control efforts made through social media during natural disasters and also the information sourcing and sharing behaviors that users exhibit during the debunking of false rumors.

Facebook fake profile identification: technical and ethical considerations

PurposeIn March 2019, Facebook updated its security procedures requesting ID verification for people who wish to advertise or promote political posts of adverts. The announcement received little media coverage even though it is an interesting development in the battle against fake news. This paper aims to review the current literature on different approaches in the battle against the spread of fake news, including the use of computer algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) and introduction of ID checks.Design/methodology/approachCritical to the evaluation is consideration into ID checks as a means to combat the spread of fake news. To understand the process and how it works, the team undertook a social experiment combined with reflective analysis to better understand the impact of ID check policies when combined with other standards policies of a typical platform.FindingsThe analysis identifies grave concerns. In a wider context, standardising such policy will leave political activists in countries vulnerable to reprisal from authoritarian regimes. Other victims of the impacts include people who use fake names to protect the identity of adopted children or to protect anonymity from abusive partners.Originality/valueThe analysis also points to the fact that troll armies could bypass these checks rendering the use of ID checks less effective in the battle to combat fake news.

Image‐size disparity reduces difference detection in face matching

SummaryFace matching is the act of deciding whether two facial images depict the same person or different people. The real‐world face‐matching task of checking photo IDs typically occurs under conditions of image‐size disparity: A small picture is compared with a life‐size face. We examined the effect of image‐size disparity on face‐matching accuracy. In three experiments, subjects were presented with pairs of equivalently or disparately sized images that depicted the same person or different people. Subjects made same/different judgments and, in two experiments, also reported confidence. Difference detection was significantly poorer given disparate (versus equivalent) image size. Confidence was significantly higher when responses were correct versus incorrect. These findings held whether viewing and decision time was unlimited or limited. Our results raise the practical concern that image‐size disparity may undermine difference detection in ID checking, while also indicating that people have some insight into the accuracy of their face‐matching judgments.

Tobacco Advertising and ID Checks in Columbus, Ohio, in Advance of Tobacco 21.

In autumn 2017, Columbus, Ohio, joined numerous other US locations in raising their legal sales age for purchasing tobacco to 21 (ie, becoming "T21"). The present study sought to establish a baseline for ID checks in Columbus prior to T21 enforcement and to examine whether store type and marketing were associated with better rates of ID checks. Fieldworkers aged 20 to 21 years visited a random sample of 110 tobacco retailers during summer 2017 (drawn from >10 000 licensed retailers in the county). After collecting store-related information, they attempted to purchase cigarettes and recorded whether their ID was checked (federal law requires ID checks for anyone who looks younger than 27 years). Columbus, Ohio. Store type, external tobacco advertising, and ID check outcome. Descriptive and inferential statistics. Among stores where cigarettes were purchased, 61.1% did not conduct ID checks. Absent ID checks were associated with the store being a convenience store or tobacco shop, χ2(2) = 4.45, P = .035, and having a greater amount of external advertising, t(93) = 2.00, P = .049. Overall, the low rate of ID checks for young adults purchasing tobacco in Columbus is concerning. Continued monitoring of retailer compliance will be important as retailers adjust to the arrival of T21. Targeted enforcement and additional outreach with tobacco shops, convenience stores, and stores with a high amount of external advertising may be particularly needed.

Implementation and Effectiveness of an Online Responsible Vendor Training Program for Recreational Marijuana Stores in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington State.

Six US states have implemented retail sales of recreational marijuana. Training in responsible sales practices has been effective in the alcohol market. An online responsible marijuana vendor (RMV) training was produced and implemented with stores in a randomized trial. An online RMV training was developed through meetings with state regulators and local law enforcement personnel, curriculum standards published by the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division in May 2015, interviews with recreational marijuana store personnel (n = 15), and usability testing of a prototype training with store personnel (n = 19) in Colorado and Washington State. The training contained 5 modules: state laws and regulations, ID checking, health effects of marijuana, customer service practices including recognizing intoxicated patrons, and rules of the trade. A randomized controlled trial testing the training enrolled a random sample of state-licensed retail recreational marijuana stores (n = 225) in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington State. In total, 125 stores were randomly assigned to receive the RMV training. A total of 420 store employees completed the online training between June 2017 and February 2018 (43.5% female, 88.4% younger than 40 years, and 74.1% non-Hispanic white). Responses to posttraining surveys showed that most trainees found the training user-friendly (78.4%), were satisfied (68.8%), and would recommend it to another employee (91.1%). The training improved trainees' ability to check IDs (pretraining mean = 3.91 [SD = 1.36], posttraining mean = 4.58 [SD = 0.66], t387,388 = 8.68, P < .001) and their confidence to use the state's inventory tracking system (pretraining mean = 2.52 [SD = 0.65], posttraining mean = 2.85 [SD = 0.39], t387, 388 = 10.89, P < .001) and spot intoxicated customers (pretraining mean = 2.79 [SD = 0.41], posttraining mean = 2.94 [SD = 0.25], t387,388 = 6.87, P < .001). Online RMV training was acceptable to retail recreational marijuana personnel and potentially improved responsible sales practices. Responsible vendor training has been successful under certain conditions in the alcohol market and should be considered for the recreational marijuana market.

The development and pilot testing of the marijuana retail surveillance tool (MRST): assessing marketing and point-of-sale practices among recreational marijuana retailers.

As recreational marijuana expands, it is critical to develop standardized surveillance measures to study the retail environment. To this end, our research team developed and piloted a tool assessing recreational marijuana retailers in a convenience sample of 20 Denver retailers in 2016. The tool assesses: (i) compliance and security (e.g. age-of-sale signage, ID checks, security cameras); (ii) marketing (i.e. promotions, product availability and price) and (iii) contextual and neighborhood features (i.e. retailer type, facilities nearby). Most shops (90.0%) indicated the minimum age requirement, all verified age. All shops posted interior ads (M = 2.6/retailer, SD = 3.4), primarily to promote edibles and other non-smoked products. Price promotions were common in shops (73.7%), 57.9% used social media promotions and 31.6% had take-away materials (e.g. menus, party promotions). Nearly half of the shops (42.1%) advertised health claims. All shops offered bud, joints, honey oil, tinctures, kief, beverages, edibles and topicals; fewer sold clones and seeds. Six shops (31.6%) sold shop-branded apparel and/or paraphernalia. Prices for bud varied within and between stores ($20-$45/'eighth', ∼3.5 g). Twelve were recreational only, and eight were both recreational and medicinal. Liquor stores were commonly proximal. Reliability assessments with larger, representative samples are needed to create a standardized marijuana retail surveillance tool.