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Facebook Acquires Biometric ID Startup

posted by Fnord666 on Friday January 26 2018, @07:31PM   Printer-friendly
from the does-it-verify-Russian-ID-cards dept.

takyon writes:

Facebook buys Boston software company that authenticates IDs

Facebook Inc is buying a software firm that specializes in authenticating government-issued identification cards, the two companies said on Tuesday, a step that may help the social media company learn more about the people who buy ads on its network.

[...] Boston-based Confirm Inc, which is privately held, said on its website that the acquisition was the culmination of three years of work to build technology to keep people safe online. [...] Confirm says that its software allows for proof of identity for online transactions, allowing users to detect potentially fraudulent activity.

Also at TechCrunch.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by VLM on Friday January 26 2018, @09:09PM (1 child)

    by VLM (445) on Friday January 26 2018, @09:09PM (#628531)

    says that its software allows for proof of identity for online transactions, allowing users to detect potentially fraudulent activity.

    Careful reading finds this gem.

    AFAIK FB is not in the "replace brick and mortar retail" biz, nor in the "online election voting" biz. I can't use it as a notary public or contract signing for business use.

    So exactly what class of transactions can be less fraudulent via removing privacy, once commerce and voting and business are excluded? Seriously, whats left? "people who buy ads on its network" sounds pretty bogus for all that technology, so there's gotta be a real answer somewhere. I'm just saying this story is beyond the "conspiracy theory" region and is entering the "WTF" region.

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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @10:29PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @10:29PM (#628591)

    I would look at what's happening in China - the massive market that everyone wants in on.
    Cash is already pretty much dead in China as the country lives the future with mobile pay [cnbc.com]
    Wouldn't Failbook love to get a slice of that pie...