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

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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: George () Orwellian Org
To: "Declan McCullagh" <declan () well com>
Cc: "notbored" <notbored () panix com>
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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