Latest news with #ID
Business News Wales
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Swansea Building Society Launches New Mobile App
Swansea Building Society has officially launched its new mobile app. The new digital service marks a significant step forward for the Society it said, enabling customers to transfer funds between existing Society accounts, withdraw funds to nominated accounts (subject to account terms), and set and monitor personal savings goals. The platform also gives users access to mortgage information, secure messaging with the Society's team, and the ability to manage marketing preferences and voting options for the Society's AGM. In doing so, Swansea Building Society becomes the first Welsh building society to offer a dedicated savings app — which it described as another milestone in its journey to deliver greater accessibility for members across Wales and beyond. Initially launched via the web in early April, followed by an iOS release in May, the app is now also available on Android devices. It can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Security has been a core focus during the app's development, which spanned 12 to 18 months. The result is an app that includes biometric authentication such as Face ID and Touch ID. Throughout the development process, Swansea Building Society said it aimed to provide a high-quality, secure user experience while maintaining the core values that set the Society apart. It said that while this new service offers convenience and flexibility for customers who prefer to manage their finances digitally, it is intended to enhance — not replace — the Society's longstanding commitment to personal, face-to-face service through its branch network. Nick Longar, Head of IT at Swansea Building Society, said: 'We developed the app and online platform using a phased approach to ensure everything met our standards for usability and security. It's a major advancement for the Society, giving our customers access to their accounts in a way that suits their lifestyle — all while keeping their information safe and secure.' Alun Williams, Chief Executive of Swansea Building Society, added: 'This launch represents a pivotal moment for us as we continue to evolve to meet our customers' needs. Our digital service complements the personal approach that has always been central to our ethos. With this latest development, we are proud to offer more choice, more flexibility, and even better service — without compromising on what makes us different.' The launch of the new app and online service follows the Society's fourth consecutive year of record growth. The Society remains one of the few financial institutions in the UK that receives no wholesale funding or support from the Bank of England in the form of cheap funding. Its balance sheet is funded entirely by customer savings balances and its own capital reserves built up from retained profits over many years.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sam Altman's eye-scanning identification tech expands to UK
HighlightsTools for Humanity, co-founded by Sam Altman, is launching its eye-mapping Orb devices in the United Kingdom as part of a global expansion of its identification services. The Orb device creates a digital credential called World ID based on the unique properties of a person's iris, allowing individuals to prove their identity amid rising artificial intelligence threats. The company has faced regulatory scrutiny over privacy concerns in multiple markets, but claims it does not store personal information, with verification details kept on the users' mobile phones. Tools for Humanity , a startup co-founded by OpenAI's Sam Altman , is rolling out its eyeball-scanning Orb devices to the UK as part of a global expansion of the company's novel identification services. Starting this week, people in London will be able to scan their eyes using Tools for Humanity's proprietary Orb device, the company said in a statement on Monday. The service will roll out to Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow in the coming months. The spherical Orbs will be at dedicated premises in shopping malls and on high streets, said Damien Kieran, chief legal and privacy officer at Tools for Humanity. Later, the company plans to partner with major retailers to provide self-serve Orbs that people can use as they would an ATM, Kieran added. The company, led by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Alex Blania, has presented its eye-scanning technology as a way for people to prove they are human at a time when artificial intelligence systems are becoming more adept at mimicking people. AI bots and deepfakes , including those enabled by generative AI tools created by Altman's OpenAI, pose a range of security threats, including identity theft, misinformation and social engineering. The Orb scan creates a digital credential, called World ID, based on the unique properties of a person's iris. Those who agree to the scan can also receive a cryptocurrency token called Worldcoin through the company. Tools for Humanity has faced regulatory scrutiny over privacy concerns about its technology in several markets, including investigations in Germany and Argentina, as well as bans in Spain and Hong Kong. The company said it doesn't store any personal information or biometric data and that the verification information remains on the World ID holder's mobile phone. Kieran said Tools for Humanity had been meeting with data regulators including the UK's Information Commissioner's Office and privacy advocates ahead of the planned expansion. So far, about 13 million people in countries including Mexico, Germany, Japan, Korea, Portugal and Thailand have verified their identities using Tools for Humanity's technology, the company said. In April, the company announced plans to expand to six US cities. Earlier this year, the company unveiled the Orb Mini, a smartphone-sized and -shaped device designed as a more portable alternative to the spherical version. There are 1,500 Orbs in circulation, Kieran said, but the company plans to ramp up production to ship 12,000 more over the next 12 months.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
REAL ID text scam targeting RI residents, DMV warns
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is expanding its warning against an increasing wave of scam messages targeting residents through texts, emails and phone calls. According to the DMV, these scams, reported nationwide, attempt to trick people into sharing personal information by clicking malicious links that lead to fake websites. Common messages claim the recipient has unpaid tolls or traffic violations, threaten that their license will be suspended, or state that their REAL ID has been canceled or flagged as fraudulent. You may be targeted if the message: Claims your REAL ID has been canceled or flagged as fraudulent Says you have unpaid tolls, fines, or violations Threatens enforcement action unless payment is made immediately Urges you to click a link or call a number to fix the issue Rhode Islanders are urged not to click any suspicious links, reply to unusual messages, or provide personal or financial information. The DMV emphasized that it will never demand payments or issue threats through unsolicited text messages, emails, or phone calls. Fraudulent messages should be reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC. You can also forward them to 7726 (SPAM) to alert your mobile provider. Anyone concerned about their DMV records can check their license and registration status, expiration dates, and any suspensions by visiting the DMV's online customer portal. RELATED: RI DMV warns of 'surge' in fraudulent text messages Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
No, your Costco card does not count as REAL ID, TSA says
The Transportation Security Administration wants to make something very clear: you can't use your Costco membership card as a form of identification. On June 4, the TSA attempted to dispel rumors on social media that using a Costco card is equivalent to using a REAL ID to get through airport security. According to reports, the rumor has been seen on Reddit posts and blog posts. TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said presenting your Costco card to TSA will just lead to delays. "Let me tell you something about that. Whoever wrote that story is recycling old material,' Dankers told SF Gate. "Essentially, what the process they're describing is … let's say you lost your ID and only had a Costco card in your pocket. That would help establish a baseline identity for you. The TSA officer would use that as a starting point to confirm your identity, but they would still have to go through our identity verification process.' Here is the type of ID you're supposed to have at the airport. The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, sets security standards for issuing sources of identification, such as driver's licenses. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in response to the September 11 attacks. Texas began issuing REAL ID-compliant cards on October 10, 2016. These cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner. If you look at your current Texas driver's license, it should have a gold star at the top-right corner of the ID. Your current Texas driver's license or ID is REAL ID-compliant if it has a gold star in the top right corner. If it doesn't, you'll see the gold star on your next renewal or request a replacement card. If you plan to fly domestically, the deadline to be REAL ID ready was May 7, 2025. On June 4, the TSA shared a post on X, advising people not to attempt to use a Costco membership card of any kind to bypass airport security. A Costco membership card will not count as a REAL ID. According to you can apply for a new REAL ID-compliant Texas driver's license or ID in person at a Texas DPS office. You may be eligible to renew your existing Texas driver's license or ID online. You can still use your current, unexpired Texas driver's license or ID to drive and for non-federal ID purposes. When it's time to renew your driver's license or ID, you'll get a REAL ID-compliant one. REAL IDs work for domestic travel, but can't replace a passport for international flights. Passports are still required for venturing beyond U.S. borders. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: No, your Costco card does not count as REAL ID, TSA says
Filipino Times
08-06-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
BIR now offers free Digital TIN ID via online registration system
Taxpayers can now apply online for a Digital Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) ID, eliminating the need to visit a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) office in person. The electronic version of the traditional TIN ID is available through the BIR's Online Registration and Update System (ORUS), as announced in Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 120-2023 dated November 29, 2023. This initiative is part of BIR's push to provide more convenient and contactless services. The Digital TIN ID may be used as a valid reference document for transactions with government agencies, local government units, employers, banks, and other institutions. The ID contains a photo, the Taxpayer Identification Number, designated Revenue District Office, full name, date of issuance, and a QR code for information validation. How to get your Digital TIN ID: Create or log in to your account at access the 'Get your Digital TIN ID' section, and upload a 1×1 photo (white background, no border, front-facing, both ears visible, neutral expression). Once all information is verified, click to generate the Digital TIN ID. The BIR emphasized that the Digital TIN ID is free of charge and not for sale. It also warned against availing services from online sellers offering assistance, as this may result in receiving invalid or fake TIN IDs. All individual taxpayers with an existing TIN, even without a physical ID card, are eligible to apply. As of now, the BIR website notes that the system is temporarily unavailable due to migration activities. Users are advised to check back regularly for updates.
