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Aware, Inc..

AWRE.US | Computer programming activities

Aware, Inc. is a biometrics software company that provides authentication solutions. Their products and services are primarily used for secure identity verification and authentication. They offer software development kits (SDKs) and related services that enable integration of biometric capabilities ...Show More

Ethical Profile

Mixed.

Aware, Inc. exhibits a mixed ethical standing. Named to Inc. Magazine's 2023 Best Workplaces list, employee reviews average 3.3/5 stars, citing "low pay" and reports alleging "potential illegal activities covered up by management." The company prioritizes Safe & Smart Tech, adhering to GDPR, CCPA, and EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework certification. AwareID achieved SOC 2 Type I compliance, outlining user data rights. Yet, critics highlight the potential for Aware's biometric technology to disproportionately affect minority communities or infringe on cultural rights in law enforcement. Environmentally, digitizing operations reportedly saved over ten tons of paper.

Value Scores

Better Health for All0
-100100
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity0
-100100
Fair Pay & Worker Respect-50
-100100
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing0
-100100
Honest & Fair Business0
-100100
Kind to Animals0
-100100
No War, No Weapons0
-100100
Planet-Friendly Business-20
-100100
Respect for Cultures & Communities0
-100100
Safe & Smart Tech10
-100100
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products-40
-100100

Better Health for All

0

Aware, Inc.'s biometric solutions are used in healthcare to prevent patient misidentification, medical errors, incorrect prescriptions, and duplicate records, which are substantial health benefits.

1
However, the company's products are also used in non-health-related sectors like law enforcement, border management, banking, student verification, and enterprise digital security, leading to a neutral net health effect for its principal goods and services.
2
The company's products are software for identity verification, which do not have direct physical or mental health safety implications, thus scoring as not applicable for safety record. Aware's 'Safe Harbor Warning' mentions risks and uncertainties related to new products, including potential errors, defects, or bugs, and refers to risk factors in its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, without providing specific details on health risk disclosures.
3
The company's biometric authentication can prevent errors in treatment, prescriptions, and diagnoses, which are considered preventative measures against adverse health outcomes.
4
Aware adheres to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, UK Extension, and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, committing to respond to privacy complaints within 45 days.
5
It also states it does not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA/CPRA.
6
The company's privacy policy outlines data retention for biometric data for up to three years after the last client interaction or until the client relationship ceases,
7
and its technology aims to improve patient privacy and provides a more secure alternative to traditional authentication methods.
8

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

0

Aware, Inc. is a biometrics software company that provides authentication solutions primarily to other businesses and government entities, including those in the banking sector, but does not directly offer lending, deposit, or other financial services to consumers.

1
As such, the company does not have consumer credit products, manage customer finance data, operate financial service access points, or engage in activities directly related to consumer financial inclusion or wealth building.
2
Therefore, all KPIs under the 'Fair Money & Economic Opportunity' value are scored as '0' because they are not applicable to the company's core business model.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

-50

Employee reviews from 2021-2025 indicate an overall employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, which translates to approximately 62/100 for worker engagement.

1
The culture rating is 3.0 out of 5 stars (60/100).
2
Multiple reviews mention high turnover in front-line positions, and some reviews allude to potential mismanaged situations and illegal activities being covered up by management, suggesting possible labor law or human rights violations.
3
However, no specific regulatory actions, violations, fines, or compliance issues are explicitly mentioned as substantiated.
4

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

0

Aware, Inc. is a biometrics software company. The provided articles do not contain any specific quantitative data regarding its fair trade and ethical sourcing practices.

1
There is no evidence of the company procuring or trading physical commodities that would typically be subject to fair-trade certifications, supplier audits, or high-risk material assessments. Therefore, KPIs related to these aspects are scored as N/A. No specific data is available for ethical clause coverage or supplier diversity spend.
2

Honest & Fair Business

0

No specific, concrete data points were found in the provided articles for any of the 'Honest & Fair Business' KPIs. The articles explicitly state 'N/A' or 'No information provided' for metrics such as regulatory fines, transparency index scores, whistleblower policies, financial restatements, audit coverage, ESG controversy scores, complaint resolution times, board conflict-free percentages, anti-corruption policies, or third-party verification.

1
Therefore, no assessment can be made for these KPIs based on the given evidence.

Kind to Animals

0

No evidence available to assess Aware, Inc. on Kind to Animals.

No War, No Weapons

0

No specific, quantitative evidence was found in the provided articles to assess Aware, Inc. against any of the 'No War, No Weapons' KPIs. The articles primarily discuss company relocation, general CSR overview, or mention ethical considerations without providing measurable data on revenue from defense contracts, dual-use technology, sales to sanctioned regimes, peacebuilding investments, or any other relevant metrics.

Planet-Friendly Business

-20

Aware, Inc. has no reported environmental compliance violations.

1
In October 2022, the company relocated its headquarters to a smaller facility.
2
Through digitization and recycling initiatives, Aware, Inc. saved over ten tons of paper.
3

Respect for Cultures & Communities

0

No evidence available to assess Aware, Inc. on Respect for Cultures & Communities.

Safe & Smart Tech

10

Aware, Inc. holds multiple privacy and security certifications. Its Aware ID product achieved SOC 2 Type I compliance as of October 31, 2022.

1
Additionally, the company is certified to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, the UK Extension to the EU-U.S. DPF, and the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, as stated in its April 25, 2024, Data Security & Privacy Policy.
2
The company's privacy policy also outlines comprehensive user data control, granting users rights to access, rectify, anonymize, erase, restrict processing, and transfer their data, as well as withdraw consent.
3
The policy further states compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable data privacy laws.
4

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

-40

Aware, Inc. has implemented waste reduction initiatives, including reducing paper usage by over ten tons through digitization.

1
The company also mentions a commitment to recycling.
2
No other specific waste management or sustainable product data is provided in the articles.

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AI-generated analysis based on publicly available data. Not financial advice. Ratings are expressions of opinion derived from automated models and may contain inaccuracies. See our Risk Disclosure for full details.