FC: Visionics facecams to protect "NYC tourist sites" from attack!

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Fri May 24 2002 - 06:18:42 PDT

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    And we already know how stunningly reliable facecams are:
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-03150.html
    
    I'll attach the press release below.
    
    -Declan
    
    ---
    
    From: Georgeat_private
    To: "Declan McCullagh" <declanat_private>
    Cc: "notbored" <notboredat_private>
    Subject: Visionics, in the news
    Date: Fri, 24 May 2002 05:37:42 -0400
    
    Declan,
    A brief blurb on WNBC-TV (NYC) this morning.
    The "U.S. Park Police" will protect "NYC tourist sites"
    by using Visionics software (donated use) to scan faces,
    to be compared against the Feds database of terrorists.
    One specific spot mentioned is people waiting to
    get on the ferrys to Liberty Island. The camera
    setups are obvious deals on tripods, going by
    the example shown at an outside site.
    No veils allowed? (Soon to be an SCP play? ;-)
    A Visionics spokeswoman was interviewed, told how it
    works using biometric face capture.
    FYI. Not on NBC's web site.
    
    Nice to know our gov isn't ignoring vague threats anymore, eh?
    <GROAN>
    
    ---
    
    http://ir.shareholder.com/vsnx/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=81358
    
    
    Enhanced Security Measures to Protect NYC Landmarks Ellis Island and Statue
               of Liberty Include Visionics' Facial Recognition System
    
        Visionics Asked to Provide FaceIt®ARGUS System at Gate Entry Ways in
        Battery Park Screening Facility for Heightened Security Over Holiday
        Weekend
    
        NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2002-- Visionics Corporation
        (Nasdaq: VSNX), the worldwide leader in identification technologies
        and systems, announced today that its latest FaceIt® ARGUS
        surveillance system will be used to augment security measures at the
        Battery Park Screening Facility in the ferry embarkation area to Ellis
        Island and the Statue of Liberty in the New York harbor during this
        Memorial Day holiday weekend.
    
        The state of the art system is on loan from Visionics to the United
        States Park Police for the holiday weekend and is part of a series of
        stepped up security measures that will be visible at New York City
        landmarks.
    
        Major Thomas H. Wilkins of the United States Park Police commented,
        "Since the tragic events of September 11, our agency has been focused
        on preventing future attacks while ensuring everyday life remains as
        uninterrupted as possible. Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are
        potent symbols of our country's freedoms and it is our mission to make
        these landmarks safe for visitors and tourists."
    
        The installation of FaceIt® ARGUS at Battery Park Screening Facility
        will encompass the security portal area that precedes the ferry
        boarding planks. The system will automatically scan all faces passing
        through the entryway and compare them against a database of known
        terrorists compiled by federal authorities. The installation will be
        in compliance with Visionics' privacy principles---signage informing
        the public that the system is in use is posted in corresponding areas
        and all non-matches are automatically deleted from the system.
    
        Dr. Joseph J. Atick, chairman and CEO of Visionics Corporation stated,
        "We are truly honored to have been asked to participate in enhancing
        the security of some of our nation's most cherished landmarks.
        Providing our facial recognition technology for the US Park Police is
        yet another affirmation of our industry-leading position and we
        believe our contribution can help make the Memorial Day holiday
        weekend safer for Park visitors. We welcome the opportunity to respond
        swiftly and appropriately to the urgent call for heightened security
        to help deal with this most recent threat."
    
        On February 22, 2002, Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX) and
        Visionics announced that they had entered into a definitive merger
        agreement in an effort intended to create the world's leading
        multi-biometric security technology company. Upon completion of the
        merger, the combined company will be named Identix Incorporated and
        will be headquartered in Minnetonka, MN.
    
        The preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus related to the merger
        was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Identix and
        Visionics on March 18, 2002, and an amended version was deemed
        effective by the SEC on May 21, 2002. Investors and stockholders are
        urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the
        business combination transaction referenced above because it contains
        important information. Investors and stockholders may obtain a free
        copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed
        by Identix and Visionics with the SEC at the SEC web site at
        www.sec.gov, Identix' web site at www.identix.com or Visionics' web
        site at www.visionics.com.
    
        About Visionics Corporation
    
        Visionics Corporation is the worldwide leader in identification
        technologies and systems. The Company is uniquely positioned with a
        comprehensive set of biometric identification product offerings:
        FaceIt®, live scan, IBIS and BNP. The award-winning core FaceIt®
        technology enables a broad range of products and applications built by
        partners (OEMs, VARs and system integrators). These include enhanced
        CCTV systems, identity fraud applications, and identity verification
        systems for physical and network security, travel and banking. The
        TENPRINTER, FingerPrinter CMS and Modular live scan systems are the
        most widely used by government agencies, law enforcement, airports,
        banks and other commercial institutions in the United States. IBIS is
        a revolutionary mobile identification system capable of capturing both
        forensic quality fingerprints and photographs for transmission and
        wireless transmission of data to law enforcement and other legacy
        databases for real-time identification. Finally, the BNP is the only
        commercially available platform for delivering scalable biometric
        solutions. It incorporates FaceIt® technology for implementation over
        large-scale networks and real-time identification. The product
        offerings are reflective of Visionics' leadership position in the
        biometric industry and commitment to the innovation of identification
        technologies.
    
        More information on Visionics can be accessed via the Company web site
        at http://www.visionics.com  or by calling Frances Zelazny, Director
        of Corporate Communications at +1 201-332-9213.
    
        This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject
        to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to
        differ materially from those projected on the basis of such
        forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made
        based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and
        information currently available to, management pursuant to the
        "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
        Act of 1995. Among the most significant risks and uncertainties with
        respect to the merger between Visionics and Identix are obtaining
        regulatory and shareholder approval, fulfilling the conditions set
        forth in the Definitive Merger Agreement for the close of the
        anticipated transaction, and the timing of the closing of the
        transaction. For a more complete description of the risk factors,
        which may affect the future performance of Visionics and Identix on an
        individual basis, see "Risk Factors" under the respective companies'
        annual reports and other periodic SEC filings.
    
        CONTACT:
        Bob Gallagher,
        Chief Financial Officer,
        952-932-0888
        Frances Zelazny,
        Director of Corporate Communications,
        201-332-9213
    
    
    
    
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