By Mass Private

I am constantly surprised by how far biometric corporations will go to exploit COVID-19. But nothing and I mean nothing could have prepared me for what I read this past Friday.

Planet Biometrics reported that Science Media Partners is planning to hold the world's largest "home" identity webinar from May 4th -May 12th.

'Science Media Partners has announced plans for a groundbreaking online event entitled the Festival of Identity, noting it will be a new, positive, and exciting webinar platform that will serve the whole identity community during these difficult times."

Calling the largest home identity webinar in the world a festival, is a misnomer at best. Dictionary.com says the definition of a festival is "unrestrained joy", Your Dictionary calls it a "celebration." When biometric companies show unrestrained joy for finding new ways to identify people staying at home, everyone should take notice.

What is the reason Science Media Partners is holding the world's largest home identity webinar during a pandemic? It is to help governments and private corporations identify people staying at home, of course.

"The world finds itself in a time of great uncertainty and unprecedented change, with life having been turned upside down. Working from home has become the new normal, domestic travel has become the exception, international travel a rarity. Privacy and rights are being increasingly challenged – albeit most often with good reason. Across the world, governments and corporations are grappling with issues such as population management, dispersal of benefits, IT security and considering how we can finally exit from citizen lockdown strategies."

COVID-19 has changed the way governments and corporations can identify and monitor people.

Governments are worried that police can no longer rely on CCTV cameras, license plate readers and contact-tracing to identify people.

"If only some company could solve this privacy dilemma and find a way for governments and corporations to monitor people at home, then we could all breathe a sigh of relief", I sarcastically said to myself.

Six days from now, the world's largest home identification webinar called "The Festival of Identity" will begin to do just that. To date, there are seven free webinars designed to help governments monitor and identify people who are staying at home.

Monday May 4
"The Identity Landscape: COVID-19 Changes Everything"
"Proportionate Use Of Surveillance Technologies During Lockdown"

Tuesday May 5
"Internet Dogs And Digital Frankensteins: How Better ID Can Slash Identity Fraud"

Wednesday May 6
"Seamless And Hygienic Identity Technologies For Future Travel"

Thursday May 7
"HeartID - Recent Advances In ECG-Based Human Authentication"
(To find out more about HeartID click here & here.)

Monday May 11
"Are Your Security Credentials Going To The Real Service Provider?"

Tuesday May 12
"How To Make Law Enforcement Systems Interoperable And Available On Any Device"

The Festival of Identities mission is to accelerate the growth of government-run biometric solutions.

"Our global event aims to be a significant identity industry catalyst. The overarching mission is to help accelerate the move towards a world where trusted identity solutions enable governments and commercial organisations to provide citizens, employees, customers and consumers with a multitude of opportunities to transact in a seamless, yet secure manner. All the while thwarting the efforts of those intent on doing harm.”

I find it ironic that a company whose slogan is "exploring the future of government commercial and citizen identity solutions" would even bother to appear to be concerned about consumer privacy.

The Festival Of Identity is a "one-stop-shop for any company involved in authenticating human identity, whether via a secure credential, biometric, or online/digital identity solution." And that really says it all. (To see their long list of biometric sponsors and exhibitors click here.)