The Biometric Update Podcast

The Trust Files: Orchestrating Identity CTO David Rennie

Do we have a trust crisis?
This is the central question of the inaugural episode of The Trust Files, a new series of short interviews introduced by Velvet and Biometric Update to provide snapshots of the digital trust landscape.
Digital identity is only as valuable as it is trusted. The Trust Files explores how that trust can be achieved and maintained in the context of the rapidly evolving digital marketplace.
In the first episode, Orchestrating Identity Chief Trust Officer David Rennie poses the big question facing not just the industry, but the whole digital world.

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 28: Trust, testing and Australian age checks with KJR Labs' Andrew Hammond

Software quality assurance testing consultancy KJR handled the technical and school testing for Australia's Age Assurance Technology Trial. In this episode of the Biometric Update Podcast, KJR director Andrew Hammond offers his insider's view on the trial, the country's social media view, and the many use cases for AI KJR is also testing. 
 
Runtime: 00:29:55

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 27: AI agents and what to do with them feat. authID's Jeff Scheidel

Agentic AI is one of the top tech trends of 2025. In the final Biometric Update Podcast of the year, authID's VP of Operations Jeff Scheidel brings his years experience to the conversation. What can AI agents do? How can we make sure they're acting on behalf of real people? And what will the long term look like?  
 
Runtime: 00:20:56

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 26: ADVP, Tony Blair Institute debate UK digital ID plans

Should a UK digital identity be run by the government, or include private sector biometrics and digital ID vendors certified under the UK's trust framework? This special episode of the Biometric Update Podcast features a civil debate between David Crack, chair of the Association of Digital Verification Professionals (ADVP) and Alexander Iosad of the Tony Blair Institute. 
 
Runtime: 01:01:27

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 25: Roblox faces the music, with SIA's Jake Parker

Massive gaming platform Roblox is facing a wave of lawsuits that say its lax online safety measures let groomers and predators run amok. The platform has implemented facial age estimation from Persona for its chat feature. In this episode of the Biometric Update Podcast, Jake Parker, senior director of government relations at the Security Industry Association, discusses key safety and privacy considerations around FAE. 

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 24: Billions Network's Evin McMullen on blockchain-based age proofs

Proof of age with digital ID has been one of the most hotly debated topics of 2025. Evin McMullen, CEO of Billions Network, has some thoughts about how certain big name companies are deploying methods that put privacy at risk. On the latest episode of the BU Podcast, Evin McMullen makes the case for Billions Network, ZKPs and minimal disclosure of data. 

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 23: Wes Kaplan introduces the G-Knot finger vein crypto wallet

The G-Knot Crypto Wallet uses finger vein biometrics for authentication, with a look like a robot hockey puck and sub-dermal near-infrared cameras. It's a nifty little device with big ambitions. On this episode of the Biometric Update podcast, I talk with Wes Kaplan, CEO of G-Knot, about the science behind the wallet, the company's plans to move into the digital identity space, and more. 
 
Runtime: 00:23:55 

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 22: Passkeys ascendant with FIDO's Andrew Shikiar

According to the Passkey Index, a benchmark from the FIDO Alliance, 93 percent of user accounts across member firms are now eligible for passkey sign-ins. Of those, 36 percent have enrolled a passkey. The trend is clear: passkeys have entered the mainstream, with companies like Amazon, Google, PayPal, TikTok and even Home Depot and Target putting their faith in passkeys.Is the Great Passwar between passwords and passkeys finally won? And what does winning actually look like? In the latest episode of the Biometric Update Podcast, Andrew Shikiar, CEO of the FIDO Alliance, reflects on how far passkeys have come, and where digital ID is going. 
 
Runtime: 00:26:53

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 21: The Passkey Power 20 with Dashlane's Rew Islam

Passkeys keep coming. Rew Islam, head of product engineering and innovation at Dashlane, joins the BU Podcast to discuss the new Dashlane Passkey Power 20, a ranking of companies driving passkey adoption globally. 
 
Runtime: 00:32:58

Biometric Update Podcast Ep. 20: Verifymy's Andy Lulham on who's getting it right (and wrong) on age checks

Andy Lulham, chief operating officer of UK age assurance provider Verifymy, has been watching closely as age assurance legislation around the globe has evolved. In the latest episode of the BU Podcast, hear his thoughts on VPNs, global standards, and how to stand out in an expanding market. 
Runtime: 00:21:47