Identity Assurance Systems (IdAS) designs and develops biometric-based systems to provide reliable and quick human identification, combined with highly effective security and protection of personal privacy.

This work is based on the Anonymous Recognition design originated by the National Biometric Security Project (NBSP), a US non-profit organization. That provided the basis for solving one of today's most pressing security problems - the risks involved with associating personal information (e.g. social security number, date of birth, address, driver license, medical history) with data from biometric methods of identification, such as fingerprints, iris scans and facial recognition.

With further development, this innovative design can unlock the full potential of biometrics for reliable human identification in a very wide range of applications. Based on it, IdAS is developing a systematic approach to biometrics-based identity management, in a new project named AidA (Anonymous identity Assurance). This ensures that in each application, all non-biometric Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is totally segregated from the biometric data, enabling different applications to share the results of biometric authentication without breaching security, personal privacy or data protection regulations.

AidA will provide a coherent series of system designs which can be used in many different applications. Examples are border control, international management of migrants and refugees, financial services, health care, personal credentials for citizens, law enforcement and cyber security. The main advantage of this systematic AidA approach is that it enables authorized exchange and sharing of biometric-based identity data between different organizations, without endangering the security of other personal information. There are similar advantages for data protection within large dispersed organizations.

The US patent application made for the original design is being extended by IdAS, to provide international patent protection for novel features of the AidA systems now under development. These will also apply existing international standards for the use of biometric technologies and secure transactions, along with new standards as they are adopted by the international community.

IdAS will offer appropriate modules of the developed AidA design to integrators, for incorporation in new or existing identity management systems where the added functionality will be advantageous to their clients. The result is planned to be a growing international network of potentially linked identity management systems, which people can use to establish their identity for all sorts of transactions, with confidence that their personal privacy and identity information will be securely protected. The AidA design will however ensure that law enforcement agencies can, with proper legal authority, detect and follow up criminal or fraudulent misuse of this enhanced identity management infrastructure.

IdAS will be assessing the performance of a wide range of biometric devices and matching engines, in order to design AidA modules to perform effectively in each application. Work in support of new international standards will also be needed. For these purposes, IdAS is developing some of the evaluation, testing and standards work formerly done by NBSP. These services will be offered to U.S. government and private sector organizations, to support their acquisition or development of biometric-based identity management systems.