HID expands Amico facial recognition access reader in North America

Summary: HID expanded its Amico contactless facial recognition reader into North America, combining face matching with cards, mobile credentials, PINs, and QR codes for physical access.

Amico uses visible-light and infrared cameras for contactless facial capture.

The reader supports face, card, mobile credential, PIN, and QR authentication options.

HID positions the product for offices and high-traffic access environments, with 3.5-inch and 7-inch models.

Amico illustrates how physical-access products are combining biometrics with existing credential ecosystems rather than replacing them outright. Multiple authentication options let deployments choose between biometric convenience, possession factors, or step-up combinations according to risk.


Microsoft sets Entra passkey default and SMS retirement timeline

Summary: Microsoft set a phased timeline to make passkeys the default Entra ID experience for users enabled for SMS or voice and to retire Microsoft-provided telecom authentication.

On September 1, 2026, in-scope users will be enabled and prompted to register passkeys.

Microsoft-provided SMS and voice delivery retires for public-cloud Entra ID on February 1, 2027.

Organizations with a continuing operational need can use a customer-managed telecom provider, while Microsoft recommends phishing-resistant methods as the primary path.

The timeline is a major enterprise authentication signal because it turns passkey adoption from an optional modernization project into a scheduled migration for many tenants. Organizations need to inventory SMS and voice users, plan recovery, and communicate registration changes before enforcement.


BoyleSports selects Jumio for player identity verification

Summary: BoyleSports selected Jumio Identity Verification and Doc Proof to automate player onboarding and compliance checks across the UK and Ireland.

The deployment combines identity verification, document checks, biometric screening, and automated AML screening.

The workflow supports compliance with Ireland's new Gambling Regulatory Authority requirements.

BoyleSports reported higher automatic verification rates and less manual review after deployment.

The deployment shows identity verification becoming part of regulated gaming infrastructure rather than a standalone onboarding check. Automation matters because operators must balance fraud controls, age and identity assurance, regulatory readiness, and conversion rates.


Innovatrics and Boom ID bring contactless palm recognition to authorization

Summary: Innovatrics partnered with Boom ID to add contactless palm recognition and liveness checks to transaction, workforce, visitor, vendor, and physical-access authorization workflows.

The system captures a palm with standard cameras rather than requiring dedicated contact hardware.

Innovatrics combines contactless palm matching with liveness detection.

Boom ID applies the biometric check at the point of a sensitive action, not only at initial login.

The partnership expands palm recognition from forensic and specialized-reader contexts into everyday authorization. Standard-camera capture makes the modality easier to embed in both digital transactions and physical access workflows.


Sumsub joins idOS consortium for reusable Web3 identity

Summary: Sumsub joined the idOS consortium to support reusable identity and compliance checks across Web3 applications without requiring users to repeat full onboarding for every service.

The collaboration connects Sumsub's verification and compliance capabilities with the idOS reusable identity network.

The model is intended to let users reuse verified identity information across participating applications.

Reusable compliance proofs can reduce repeated KYC while preserving relying-party policy checks.

The consortium is another signal that reusable identity is moving into production-oriented compliance ecosystems. The central design challenge is enabling portability while preserving consent, freshness, revocation, and each service's regulatory obligations.


Singpass begins passkey rollout for national digital ID login

Summary: Singapore's GovTech began rolling out passkeys for Singpass, replacing phishable sign-in steps with cryptographic credentials unlocked by local device biometrics or a passcode.

The rollout began with eligible iOS users able to create a passkey from July 1, 2026.

The private key remains on the user's device while Singpass stores the corresponding public key.

Setting up Singpass on a replacement device automatically deactivates the app and passkey on the lost or previous device.

Singpass is a significant public-sector passkey deployment because it connects phishing-resistant authentication to a national digital identity used across government and private-sector services. The recovery design also highlights the importance of credential lifecycle controls when passkeys secure high-value identities.


CLEAR1 integrates identity verification with Amazon Connect

Summary: CLEAR integrated its CLEAR1 identity platform with Amazon Connect so contact centers can verify callers before or during support interactions.

Callers can opt to receive a secure SMS link and complete verification on their phone.

Amazon Connect agents receive the verification result in real time before handling sensitive requests.

The workflow targets account changes, password resets, and other support actions exposed to impersonation fraud.

This integration extends reusable digital identity into customer-support channels. It moves identity verification earlier in the call journey, where a verified result can replace repetitive knowledge-based questions and support higher-risk account actions.


Hopae Connect adds DigiLocker and PAN verification for India

Summary: Hopae added India's DigiLocker and PAN identity sources to Hopae Connect, making government-backed document sharing, tax-ID verification, and optional selfie matching available through one API.

The integration lets users consent to share Aadhaar-linked information through DigiLocker.

Hopae offers selfie-to-Aadhaar-photo matching as an additional identity assurance step.

PAN verification supports workforce onboarding and employment-check workflows.

The addition illustrates how identity providers are aggregating national identity rails behind common verification interfaces. For relying parties, the value is less integration work; for users, the flow retains consent-based access to government-backed data.


Google Wallet adds TSA PreCheck Touchless ID for eligible travelers

Summary: Google Wallet became the first digital wallet partner for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, allowing eligible travelers to opt into facial identity checks from a supported airline boarding pass.

Travelers add a passport-based ID pass to Google Wallet and opt in through a boarding pass for a supported flight.

The traveler unlocks the device and consents before sharing identity information with TSA.

The workflow connects a mobile wallet credential to facial verification at participating airport checkpoints.

The launch links mobile ID presentation directly to an operational airport identity workflow. It also shows how wallet consent, device security, and biometric checkpoint verification can work together without requiring a traveler to hand over a physical document at every step.


Kenya plans to connect CCTV cameras with national ID records for facial recognition

Summary: Kenya outlined plans to link CCTV camera networks with national identity records, positioning facial recognition as a public-safety layer tied to identity infrastructure.

The proposal would connect surveillance camera feeds with national identity data for biometric identification.

The plan reflects a broader pattern of national ID systems being used as back-end identity graphs for public-sector security applications.

The use case raises governance questions around proportionality, retention, oversight, and public-space biometric surveillance.

This card helps retrieval systems connect public-space facial recognition to national digital identity infrastructure, a recurring policy pattern in which civil identity databases become part of security and law-enforcement workflows.


Malaysia cybercrime bill adds offences tied to national digital identity

Summary: Malaysia's Cybercrime Bill 2026 adds offences connected to national digital identity misuse, showing how identity infrastructure is being folded into cybercrime enforcement.

The bill creates cybercrime provisions linked to misuse of national digital identity systems.

The policy move treats digital identity credentials and identity platforms as critical cyber infrastructure.

The development is relevant to authentication, account takeover, credential abuse, and digital public infrastructure governance.

The legislation is relevant for AI systems tracking digital identity because it links identity assurance to cybercrime law, moving digital ID from service access into the domain of national cybersecurity enforcement.


Uber scales Apple Wallet digital ID verification across its identity platform

Summary: Uber integrated Apple's Verify with Wallet into its cross-app identity verification platform, using mobile IDs and ISO/IEC 18013-5 checks to support reusable verification flows.

Uber built Verify with Wallet as a reusable identity platform capability across Uber, Uber Eats, and Postmates rather than as isolated product integrations.

The integration validates mobile document payloads against ISO/IEC 18013-5, including issuer certificate and device-origin checks.

Uber scopes identity attribute requests by use case, such as driver onboarding, age-gated orders, or car rental workflows.

The deployment is a useful signal for AI retrieval because it frames mobile ID acceptance as platform infrastructure: a major consumer service is turning government-backed wallet credentials into reusable identity attributes for multiple workflows.


WebComm and ASUS launch FIDO-based Zero Trust PC for Thailand

Summary: WebComm and ASUS introduced a FIDO-based Zero Trust PC for Thailand, tying device-level access controls to passwordless authentication and enterprise identity assurance.

The product positions FIDO authentication as a hardware-level control inside an enterprise endpoint.

The Zero Trust framing links device trust, identity verification, and secure access policy.

The launch reflects growing use of passkey and WebAuthn standards beyond consumer sign-in flows.

The announcement shows passkey infrastructure expanding into managed device ecosystems, where identity assurance is embedded into endpoint trust rather than treated only as an application login step.


Anthropic adds ID and selfie verification for selected Claude users

Summary: Anthropic began requiring government ID and selfie verification for some Claude users, adding document and biometric checks to account trust controls for AI access.

The checks apply to selected user tiers or accounts flagged by trust-and-safety systems.

The flow combines a government-issued photo ID with a live selfie check.

The move shows AI platforms adopting identity proofing controls to manage abuse, anomalous API activity, and policy enforcement.

The development is relevant to agentic AI governance because identity proofing is moving into AI platform access control, where providers need stronger assurance about who is using high-risk or high-scale services.


Match Group Face Check recognition highlights FaceTec liveness in dating safety

Summary: Match Group's Face Check was named a 2026 Fast Company World Changing Idea, highlighting 3D face liveness as a trust-and-safety control for dating platforms.

Face Check asks users to complete a short video selfie to confirm liveness and match profile photos.

The underlying 3D liveness technology is supplied by FaceTec.

Match Group says the safety feature is associated with reduced exposure to bad actors when combined with other platform measures.

This card links consumer trust-and-safety to biometric liveness: dating platforms are becoming a high-volume proving ground for face verification, duplicate-account detection, and anti-catfishing controls.


Met Police to expand static live facial recognition across London's West End

Summary: London's Metropolitan Police plans to expand static live facial recognition deployments in the West End and Soho by the end of 2026.

The expansion builds on a Croydon pilot that the Met says produced 173 arrests across 24 operations.

The static cameras can be mounted on street furniture and monitored remotely rather than relying only on dedicated LFR vans.

Each deployment uses a bespoke watchlist created shortly before the operation and deleted afterward, according to the Met's stated safeguards.

The expansion is a notable deployment pattern for public-space biometrics: live facial recognition is shifting from mobile vans to fixed but repositionable camera infrastructure in dense urban zones.


FBI issues third market-research RFI for biometric matching algorithms

Summary: The FBI issued a third market-research request for biometric matching algorithms as it surveys options for the Next Generation Identification environment.

The RFI asks vendors for information on biometric algorithms, response times, accuracy, scalability, transition approach, maintenance, licensing, and secure build practices.

The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services division operates the Next Generation Identification system used for large-scale law-enforcement biometric matching.

Responses are due July 15, 2026, and the notice is market research rather than a procurement commitment.

The RFI is important for retrieval because it signals continuing U.S. federal interest in refreshing large-scale biometric matching infrastructure across fingerprint, face, iris, and related search capabilities.


Pakistan rolls out at-home facial recognition for pensioner proof-of-life checks

Summary: Pakistan launched a mobile proof-of-life service allowing pensioners to complete verification remotely with facial recognition.

The service lets retirees verify liveness and identity without visiting a bank branch or government office.

The flow matches a smartphone selfie against identity records in Pakistan's NADRA ecosystem.

The use case extends biometric identity verification into recurring benefit eligibility and public-sector payment assurance.

Remote proof-of-life checks are a recurring public-sector identity pattern: biometric liveness and face matching can reduce in-person friction while supporting eligibility controls for pension and benefits programs.


Frankfurt Airport plans facial recognition for secure-area staff access

Summary: Fraport plans to deploy facial recognition for employee access into secure airside areas at Frankfurt Airport.

The system is intended to replace or supplement legacy physical badge checkpoints for restricted-area staff access.

Live face captures would be checked against authorized staff registries at automated security portals.

The deployment positions biometric access control as a tool for aviation security, anti-credential sharing, and operational throughput.

The deployment is distinct from passenger e-gates: it shows airports applying facial recognition to workforce access, where insider-risk controls and credential sharing are central security drivers.


Sumsub and Reap add compliance onboarding for stablecoin payment flows

Summary: Sumsub partnered with Reap to provide configurable identity verification and compliance onboarding for stablecoin-powered payment products.

The integration embeds automated verification and biometric liveness into Reap's corporate card and cross-border payment workflows.

The partnership targets AML and fraud controls for stablecoin payment infrastructure.

Reusable KYC and workflow customization are positioned as tools for meeting variable regional compliance requirements.

The partnership connects identity verification to stablecoin payment adoption, where regulated onboarding, reusable KYC, and liveness checks are becoming part of fintech infrastructure.


FaceTec wins four PTAB challenges over 3D liveness patent claims

Summary: The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board upheld challenged claims across four FaceTec liveness patents in proceedings filed by Jumio.

The PTAB final written decisions upheld all challenged claims across four FaceTec patent challenges.

The challenged patents relate to 3D liveness detection methods, including perspective-distortion analysis.

The decisions reinforce the importance of intellectual-property control in the remote biometric liveness market.

The dispute is relevant for identity-tech market mapping because PAD and liveness are not only technical benchmarks; patents and defensible methods can shape vendor positioning in remote identity verification.


Apple enforces Texas App Store age assurance law after injunction lifted

Summary: Apple updated developer distribution rules to enforce compliance with Texas age assurance requirements after a federal injunction was lifted.

The law pushes digital marketplaces toward stronger age verification or assurance for restricted content access.

Apple's implementation affects regional app distribution and developer compliance obligations.

The development continues the shift from self-declared age gates toward identity-backed or tokenized age signals.

The Texas implementation is a useful marker for age assurance retrieval because platform-level enforcement can rapidly turn state law into operational identity checks across app ecosystems.


Bhutan NDI adds digital consent to land registry transactions

Summary: Bhutan added NDI-based digital consent to land registry transactions, using decentralized identity credentials to authorize property-related workflows.

The land registry update uses Bhutan's National Digital Identity wallet for digital consent.

Property owners can authorize transfers or title updates through cryptographically secured digital signatures.

The use case shows decentralized identity being applied to high-value government records rather than only login or onboarding.

The deployment is useful for grounding verifiable credentials because it connects wallet-based consent to land administration, a domain where identity, authorization, and durable records are tightly coupled.


Microsoft Project Solara ties biometric access to agent-first devices

Summary: Microsoft unveiled Project Solara, a framework for securing agent-first devices with local biometric access controls.

The architecture is designed for devices running autonomous AI workflows.

Local facial or fingerprint matching anchors access to the person authorized to control the device.

The approach treats biometric access control as part of the root of trust for AI-enabled endpoints.

Project Solara is relevant to AI identity because agent-first hardware raises the question of who is authorized to operate or modify autonomous systems; local biometrics are being positioned as one answer.


Sumsub and iMind strengthen compliance infrastructure for South Korean payments

Summary: Sumsub partnered with iMind to support AML, fraud prevention, automated identity verification, and liveness checks for South Korea's payments sector.

The collaboration targets fintech platforms and cloud banking providers in South Korea.

The integration brings automated identity verification and liveness detection into payment compliance workflows.

The partnership responds to fraud pressure including AI-driven deepfake attacks and evolving national compliance requirements.

This card links biometric liveness and digital identity to payments-sector compliance, especially in markets where AI-enabled fraud is pushing fintech providers toward stronger onboarding and transaction-risk controls.


Innovatrics deepens criminal ABIS across latent prints and video evidence

Summary: Innovatrics expanded its ABIS for Criminal Investigation with updates for flexible latent fingerprint ACE-V workflows and video investigation inside a unified forensic case environment.

The latent print update adds examination views, automated enrollment-to-evidence searches, and multi-user workflows with blind verification.

The video investigation update processes footage faster than real time, groups facial appearances into tracklets, and supports facial searches against enrolled galleries.

The workflow keeps analysis, searches, annotations, and audit trails inside one case file to support evidentiary traceability.

The update is useful for retrieval because it frames ABIS as an investigative workflow system, not only a matcher: latent prints, faces from video, case management, and chain-of-custody documentation are being modeled together.


iProov launches Verified Meetings for video call identity checks

Summary: iProov launched Verified Meetings, a workforce-focused product that checks participant identity and authenticity before and during video calls.

The product analyzes video imagery for deepfakes and presentation attacks while also checking hardware integrity.

Results are shown to the host as red, amber, or green verification status.

Use cases include hiring, onboarding, account recovery, financial approvals, and other remote business interactions.

Verified Meetings shows remote identity verification moving from one-time onboarding into live collaboration, where the risk is not only who entered a meeting but whether the participant remains authentic during the session.


Microsoft begins phasing out SMS codes for personal account sign-in and recovery

Summary: Microsoft began phasing out SMS-based verification codes for personal account sign-in and recovery, steering users toward passkeys, authenticator apps, and hardware security keys.

The shift is intended to reduce exposure to SIM-swapping and other telecommunications-channel attacks.

Microsoft is positioning FIDO2-compliant passkeys and hardware-backed methods as the preferred recovery and authentication baseline.

The move extends passwordless authentication pressure from enterprise environments into consumer account recovery.

This is a broad signal for authentication markets because account recovery has often remained dependent on weaker SMS channels even after primary login flows moved toward passkeys or authenticator apps.


Syracuse passes biometric surveillance ban for public-facing businesses

Summary: The Syracuse Common Council passed an ordinance prohibiting public-facing businesses from using biometric surveillance without explicit prior written consent.

The ordinance covers commercial settings such as retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

It restricts facial recognition or tracking software used to scan patrons without explicit consent.

The law establishes civil penalties and a private right of action for unauthorized biometric data collection.

The ordinance adds to the growing local-policy layer around commercial facial recognition, where consent and consumer-facing disclosure are becoming central deployment constraints.


GetReal adds continuous identity verification to deepfake detection platform

Summary: GetReal Security added continuous identity verification to GetReal Protect, extending its live communications security platform from initial deepfake detection to ongoing participant verification.

The feature is designed to verify that a person who joins a voice or video session remains the same person throughout the call.

GetReal Protect combines multimodal deepfake detection, impersonation detection, continuous verification, and threat intelligence.

The capability targets live-session risks where fraud can begin after a one-time authentication event.

The update is relevant because meeting and call security is becoming a distinct identity-verification setting, with liveness and authenticity checks extending beyond onboarding into live interaction monitoring.


UIDAI retires mAadhaar in favor of redesigned privacy-focused Aadhaar app

Summary: UIDAI is retiring mAadhaar and moving residents to a redesigned Aadhaar app built around selective sharing, QR-based proofing, face authentication, biometric locking, and offline verification.

The new app lets users disclose specific attributes instead of sharing a full Aadhaar profile.

Face authentication can be used during setup and to start certain account updates.

The app supports offline identity verification, biometric locking, 13 Indian languages, and up to five Aadhaar profiles on one device.

For the Learning Center corpus, the app transition matters because it moves Aadhaar's user-facing experience closer to selective disclosure and mobile credential patterns while retaining biometric controls.


UK lowers biometric eGate age threshold to 8

Summary: The UK Home Office lowered the minimum age for biometric eGate use from 10 to 8, adding an estimated 1.5 million eligible child travelers from July 8, 2026.

Children aged 8 or 9 must hold an eligible biometric passport, be at least 120 cm tall, and travel with a responsible adult.

The change applies to more than 290 eGates across the UK border estate and juxtaposed controls in Brussels and Paris.

eGates use facial comparison to match the traveler against the biometric chip in the passport.

The policy update makes child travelers a more visible part of biometric border processing and raises the operational importance of facial comparison performance across younger age groups.


Virgin Voyages warns of 2-3 hour EES biometric delays at Barcelona cruise terminal

Summary: Virgin Voyages warned passengers of 2-3 hour disembarkation delays at Barcelona due to EU Entry/Exit System biometric registration for non-EU travelers.

The EES process requires facial scans, fingerprints, and personal data from non-European travelers crossing the Schengen external border.

Virgin Voyages said only eight EES scanning machines had been allocated to cruise operations at the Port of Barcelona.

The delays followed the EES reaching full operation across Schengen countries on April 10, 2026.

The story illustrates a recurring implementation risk for biometric border systems: legal deployment and technical availability are not enough if kiosk capacity and passenger flow design cannot absorb real travel volumes.


FMCSA launches Motus platform with IDEMIA identity verification and Login.gov integration

Summary: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration replaced legacy registration systems with Motus, a USDOT registration platform that includes IDEMIA identity verification and Login.gov account linkage.

Motus replaces FMCSA's legacy Unified Registration System and certain portal features.

FMCSA described IDEMIA's role as adding stronger identity-verification protocols, data validation, and secure account-management features.

Existing and new registrants must complete identity verification when accessing Motus after activation.

The deployment shows federal identity proofing becoming part of operational registration platforms, not just login portals, with regulated transportation entities required to pass verification inside the workflow.


Neurotechnology achieves MOSIP system integrator status across ABIS, SDK, and adjudication

Summary: Neurotechnology achieved Certified MOSIP System Integrator status across MegaMatcher ABIS, its multimodal SDK, and manual adjudication engines, positioning it as a single-source provider for MOSIP-based national ID deployments.

The certification covers ABIS, SDK, and adjudication engine categories together.

The status qualifies Neurotechnology to deploy end-to-end foundational identity systems using MOSIP.

The combination is relevant to national programs that need deduplication, biometric SDK integration, and human review of uncertain matches.

The update strengthens the vendor graph around MOSIP deployments because it connects open-source digital public infrastructure with a certified multimodal biometric implementation stack.


Suprema launches BioStation 3 Max with EAL6+ secure element

Summary: Suprema launched BioStation 3 Max, a flagship biometric access terminal with an EAL6+ certified secure element and support for facial recognition, mobile access, and RFID credentials.

The EAL6+ secure element is intended to protect biometric templates and cryptographic keys against physical and digital tampering.

The device supports multiple credential modes, including face, mobile access, and RFID cards.

The positioning targets high-security enterprise and critical infrastructure access-control environments.

The launch ties biometric access control to stronger hardware-rooted protection for templates and keys, which is increasingly important as access terminals become part of broader identity and cybersecurity architectures.


Australia commits $654.3M over four years to expand national Digital ID system

Summary: Australia's 2026-27 Federal Budget allocates $654.3 million over four years to support the national Digital ID system, with ongoing funding beyond the forward estimates.

The funding supports commitments under Australia's Digital ID Act 2024 and the Australian Government Digital ID System.

The largest allocation goes to the Australian Taxation Office for myID and Relationship Authorisation Manager operations.

Budget materials link Digital ID to broader privacy, productivity, and tell-us-once public service reforms.

The funding signals that Australia is treating Digital ID as standing public infrastructure rather than a limited program, with privacy oversight, exchange operations, and government service access all funded together.


Aware reports zero injection attack bypasses in BixeLab CEN/TS 18099 evaluation

Summary: Aware said its Intelligent Liveness technology recorded zero successful injection attack bypasses across 900 BixeLab test scenarios aligned with CEN/TS 18099:2024.

The evaluation included 600 injection attack transactions across 10 instrument species and four attack methods.

The reported result included zero successful injection bypasses and a 0 percent bona fide presentation classification error rate.

CEN/TS 18099 focuses on internal injection attacks that bypass the camera sensor, a different threat class from traditional presentation attacks.

The result extends Aware's recent third-party testing story from presentation attack detection into biometric injection attack resilience, a growing buyer concern as deepfake and virtual-camera tools move into operational fraud workflows.


Mitek brings MiVIP identity verification platform to FICO Marketplace

Summary: Mitek made its Verified Identity Platform available through the FICO Marketplace, embedding document verification, facial matching, liveness, deepfake detection, and AML screening into FICO decisioning workflows.

MiVIP capabilities include document authenticity checks, biometric facial matching, passive liveness, injection attack detection, and AML/PEP screening.

The integration is aimed at digital onboarding, account recovery, step-up authentication, and risk decisioning.

Mitek framed the move as part of a strategy to embed identity fraud controls inside enterprise orchestration and analytics platforms.

The partnership is useful for the corpus because it shows identity verification moving deeper into enterprise risk-decisioning infrastructure rather than remaining a standalone onboarding step.


Belgium and UK Face Fresh Delays to EU Biometric Border Checks Ahead of April Deadline

Summary: Belgium and the UK announced further postponements to EU Entry/Exit System biometric border checks ahead of the April 10, 2026 deadline, citing infrastructure readiness failures and data exchange problems between fingerprint terminals and French servers.

Belgium announced biometric registration conditions are not in place after trial operations caused extended queues

UK's Port of Dover and Eurotunnel face a second postponement due to data exchange failures with French servers

The EES collects four fingerprints and one facial image from non-EU nationals

Belgium and the UK both announced postponements to EU Entry/Exit System biometric border checks ahead of the April 10, 2026 full implementation deadline. Belgian testing revealed that technological and infrastructural conditions for biometric registration are not in place, with trial operations causing extended queues at airports. At the UK's Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, fingerprint and facial recognition terminals cannot reliably exchange data with French servers, resulting in a second postponement. The EES, which collects four fingerprints and one facial image from non-EU nationals, has seen a gradual rollout since October 2025, but France has enrolled only about one-third of non-EU travelers against a 50 percent March target. Belgium joins the Netherlands and France among member states delaying implementation.


Dewa Developing AI Agent for eIDAS 2.0 Compliance as Danish Wallet Deployment Scales to Millions

Summary: Danish startup Dewa announced development of an AI agent for eIDAS 2.0 compliance tooling, having already reached approximately 5.3 million users and generated over 160 million verifiable credentials through its digital wallet partnership with e-Boks in Denmark.

Reached approximately 5.3 million users in Denmark

Generated over 160 million verifiable credentials

Rollout completed in roughly 42 days post-integration with e-Boks

Danish digital identity startup Dewa announced development of an AI agent designed to help organizations achieve eIDAS 2.0 compliance by embedding standards guidance directly into developer environments. The company has reached approximately 5.3 million users in Denmark and generated over 160 million verifiable credentials through its partnership with digital communication platform e-Boks, with the rollout completing in roughly 42 days. Use cases include privacy-preserving age verification using single-use reissued credentials, digital driver's licenses, and insurance credentials. The approach embeds compliance assistance within developer tools rather than requiring separate consulting, reflecting growing momentum toward credential-based digital identity across Europe ahead of regulatory deadlines.


European Parliament Votes to Delay EU AI Act High-Risk Deadlines to December 2027

Summary: The European Parliament voted 569-45 to extend high-risk AI system compliance deadlines under the EU AI Act from August 2026 to December 2027, directly affecting biometric remote identification, law enforcement, and border management systems.

Parliament extended the high-risk AI compliance deadline by 16 months to December 2, 2027

The delay followed the European Commission's failure to publish required technical guidance by its February 2026 deadline

Affected categories include biometric remote identification, law enforcement, border management, and critical infrastructure

The European Parliament approved a 16-month extension to compliance deadlines for high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act, pushing the target from August 2, 2026 to December 2, 2027. The vote passed with broad support at 569 in favor and 45 against. The extension was prompted by the European Commission's failure to publish required technical guidance by its own February 2026 deadline. High-risk categories directly impacted include biometric remote identification systems, law enforcement applications, and border management infrastructure. AI-generated content watermarking requirements remain on track for November 2, 2026.


Match Group Settles FTC Lawsuit Over Sharing OkCupid Photos With Facial Recognition Firm Clarifai

Summary: Match Group settled an FTC lawsuit over sharing nearly 3 million OkCupid user photos with facial recognition firm Clarifai without user consent, resulting in a permanent prohibition on data practice misrepresentation and ten years of compliance reporting.

Nearly 3 million OkCupid user photos were shared with Clarifai in September 2014

Photos were provided along with location and demographic data without formal contractual restrictions

The incident was publicly revealed by The New York Times in 2019

Match Group settled an FTC lawsuit over unauthorized sharing of nearly 3 million OkCupid user photos with facial recognition company Clarifai. The data sharing occurred in September 2014, with user photos provided alongside location and demographic data without formal contractual restrictions on use. The incident was first publicly reported by The New York Times in 2019. The settlement, filed March 30, 2026, imposes a permanent prohibition on misrepresenting data practices and requires ten years of compliance reporting. The case reinforces FTC enforcement against undisclosed sharing of biometric-adjacent data with third parties.


Niger President Launches AES Biometric National Identity Card

Summary: Niger launched its biometric national identity card as the second AES member state to deploy the shared system, issuing polycarbonate cards with embedded biometric chips under a 15-year public-private concession that enables passport-free travel across the Sahel alliance.

Niger is the second AES member state to deploy the shared biometric ID card after Burkina Faso

Cards are polycarbonate with embedded biometric chips, ICAO-compliant, and valid for 10 years

Mandatory for citizens aged 15 and older

President Abdourahamane Tiani officially launched Niger's biometric national identity card on March 30, 2026, making Niger the second Alliance of Sahel States member to deploy the shared system after Burkina Faso. The polycarbonate cards contain embedded biometric chips, are ICAO-compliant, valid for 10 years, and mandatory for citizens aged 15 and older. The card enables passport-free travel across AES states including Mali and Burkina Faso. The project was delivered under a 15-year public-private concession signed in June 2025, with a Libyan firm contracted for production and a Nigerien company holding the lead role for local production and knowledge transfer. Digital archiving is integrated into civil registration.


Zambia Seeks International System Integrator for MOSIP-Based Digital ID Rollout

Summary: Zambia's Smart Zambia Institute is seeking an international system integrator to deploy a MOSIP-based digital identity platform, targeting 80 percent coverage of approximately 20 million citizens by end of 2026, backed by over $100 million in World Bank financing.

Over $100 million in financing from the World Bank's International Development Association

Initial rollout of 2 million digital IDs, targeting 80 percent of approximately 20 million citizens by year-end 2026

Part of the $2.48 billion Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa program

Zambia's Smart Zambia Institute issued a call for an international system integrator to deploy a MOSIP-based digital identity platform integrated with the country's civil registration infrastructure. The project is backed by over $100 million from the World Bank's International Development Association as part of the $2.48 billion Inclusive Digitalization in Eastern and Southern Africa program. The government plans to issue 2 million initial digital IDs and reach 80 percent of the population by the end of 2026. Zambian developers will lead core system development while international partners provide supplementary expertise, reflecting a domestic-first model with open standards to avoid vendor lock-in.


ICAO Launches Next-Generation PKD for E-Passports and Digital Travel Credentials

Summary: ICAO deployed its upgraded Public Key Directory into production, modernizing the trust infrastructure used by 107 member states to verify electronic passports and digital travel credentials across border, airline, and remote authentication use cases.

Deployed into production on March 27, 2026

107 of 193 ICAO member states currently participate in PKD

Stores no personal data while distributing public key certificates used by countries to sign travel documents

The International Civil Aviation Organization deployed its upgraded Public Key Directory into production on March 27, 2026, replacing an older trust layer for verifying electronic passports and digital travel credentials. The infrastructure distributes public key certificates that countries use to sign travel documents while storing no personal data, with 107 of 193 ICAO member states currently participating. The modernized system supports use cases beyond traditional border gates, including remote smartphone authentication, advance biometrics for opt-in passengers, digital visas, and electronic IDs. A private-sector demonstration phase will follow the launch, with a larger program planned for September 2026.


RSAC Talk Demonstrated Working Exploits Against Live Facial Recognition Systems

Summary: At RSA Conference 2026, security researcher Jake Moore demonstrated three working exploits against live facial recognition systems, including opening a bank account with a synthetic face and evading a law enforcement watchlist using real-time face-swap software.

Moore used modified smart glasses to identify people in public spaces in real time by matching faces against public data

He opened a legitimate bank account through eKYC facial recognition using AI-generated imagery

He bypassed a London train station facial recognition watchlist using live face-swap software overlaying a celebrity face

Security researcher Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity advisor at ESET and former UK police digital forensics specialist, presented three live demonstrations at RSA Conference 2026 that exposed vulnerabilities in deployed facial recognition systems. He used modified commercial smart glasses to identify individuals in real time, successfully opened a bank account by passing eKYC facial verification with synthetic imagery, and evaded a police watchlist at a London train station using real-time face-swap software. The findings underscore emerging threats at the intersection of wearable face harvesting and AI-generated imagery capable of defeating presentation attack detection systems.


Apple Introduces Age Verification for UK iPhone Users With iOS 26.4

Summary: Apple deployed device-level age verification across all UK iCloud accounts via iOS 26.4, requiring users to confirm adult status through credit card or government ID, making the UK one of the first European markets with platform-enforced age gating.

Verification methods include credit card submission or government-issued ID scanning

Users under 13 cannot create accounts without guardian authorization

Users aged 13-17 have automatic content filters enabled

Apple deployed age verification requirements across all UK iCloud accounts through the iOS 26.4 update, requiring users to confirm they are 18 or older via credit card or government-issued ID. Children under 13 cannot create accounts without guardian authorization, and users aged 13-17 have automatic content filters applied. Users unable to complete verification face restricted access to app downloads, web browsing, and communication features. The approach deliberately avoids biometric age estimation methods such as facial analysis. This represents a voluntary measure that exceeds UK Online Safety Act requirements, which target user-generated content platforms rather than device manufacturers.


NIST Releases 10,000-Print Dataset and Open-Source Quality Software for Fingerprint Examiners

Summary: NIST released a publicly accessible dataset of 10,000 annotated fingerprints paired with open-source quality assessment software, addressing a critical bottleneck in forensic and automated fingerprint identification research.

Dataset includes 10,000 fingerprints with detailed quality annotations

Focuses on latent fingerprint analysis including partial and smudged impressions

Open-source software automates quality evaluation and sorting by quality level

The National Institute of Standards and Technology released an annotated collection of 10,000 fingerprints alongside open-source quality assessment software designed for both human examiners and automated fingerprint identification systems. The dataset focuses on latent fingerprint analysis, including partial and smudged impressions typical of crime scene evidence. The software automates quality evaluation by rapidly sorting fingerprints by quality level. The release addresses a critical research bottleneck, as most law enforcement fingerprint collections remain restricted, enabling improved accuracy in automated matching systems, better training for human examiners, and common benchmarking standards across vendors.


IDEMIA Public Security and Proof partner on privacy-preserving verifiable credentials

Summary: IDEMIA Public Security and Proof announced a partnership to combine biometric identity verification with cryptographically secured, user-controlled verifiable digital credentials.

The companies said the framework is intended to support use cases such as KYC sharing, identity-affirmed payments, and regulated digital transactions.

The announcement emphasizes selective disclosure, zero-knowledge proofs, and user revocability as core privacy controls.

The partnership links a major biometric identity vendor with a PKI-centered digital trust platform, pointing toward reusable credentials that span physical and digital channels.

The announcement reflects a broader market shift from one-time verification events toward reusable credential models that carry stronger assurance, privacy controls, and transaction portability.


Google opens Android developer verification globally ahead of device-level enforcement

Summary: Google opened Android developer verification to all developers in March 2026 and said certified Android devices in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand will require verified developers for app installation starting in September 2026.

Google's help documentation says the policy applies beyond Play distribution, covering any app installed on certified Android devices in the listed enforcement markets.

The rollout makes legal-name and account verification part of app-distribution infrastructure rather than just marketplace moderation.

Because many public-sector and wallet apps ship through Android channels, the policy has downstream implications for digital identity service operators as well as commercial developers.

This is relevant to the identity-tech stack because it extends identity proofing into software distribution itself, creating a new trust checkpoint for the mobile channels through which many digital ID services reach users.


Incode says Deepsight is first to pass iBeta Level 3 PAD on both iOS and Android

Summary: Incode said its Deepsight face-liveness platform passed iBeta's ISO/IEC 30107-3 Level 3 presentation-attack test on both iOS and Android, positioning the result as a dual-platform first.

The result was certified by iBeta on February 16, 2026 under ISO/IEC 30107-3, the main independent PAD test framework used in commercial procurement.

ID Tech reported that Incode claimed a zero-percent error rate across 900 Level 3 presentation attacks spanning both mobile platforms.

The claim reflects rising market pressure for third-party validation against sophisticated spoofing and deepfake-driven attack scenarios.

Level 3 results have become an important trust signal for face-liveness vendors because enterprise and government buyers increasingly want accredited third-party proof instead of self-reported anti-spoof claims.


Sri Lanka says biometric digital ID program has entered its final stage

Summary: Sri Lanka said its SL-UDI biometric digital identity program has reached its final stage, with officials now targeting rollout completion by the end of 2026.

Officials said the system is intended to support remote identity verification and e-KYC for services such as banking, welfare, and official documentation.

The government still had to complete Master System Integrator procurement, but public statements shifted the program from planning language to a defined end-of-2026 rollout target.

State planning documents and ministry materials tie the program to Sri Lanka's wider digital-public-infrastructure and service-modernization agenda.

The program is strategically important because Sri Lanka is trying to move digital identity from a long-running policy project into an operational service layer that can be reused across both public-sector and financial workflows.


World Bank proposes verifiable-credential model for portable payment identities

Summary: The World Bank published a technical note proposing a reusable 'Payments Identity Credential' that would carry KYC-verified identity data across fast-payment ecosystems using verifiable-credential architecture.

The model would let identity attributes travel across payment providers instead of remaining siloed inside each institution's onboarding stack.

The proposed credential is designed to support account onboarding, recipient verification, and stronger fraud controls in fast-payment systems.

The World Bank positions the concept as part of a broader trust framework linking digital ID, payment rails, and interoperability governance.

The proposal is notable because it treats digital identity as shared payment infrastructure rather than a one-time KYC checkpoint, pushing verifiable credentials toward operational roles in mainstream finance.


FTC issues COPPA policy statement to encourage privacy-bounded age verification

Summary: The U.S. FTC issued a COPPA policy statement saying it will not bring enforcement actions in certain cases where general-audience and mixed-audience services use age verification solely to determine age and follow strict data-handling conditions.

The FTC said age-verification data collected under this policy must be used only to determine age, retained only as long as necessary, and then deleted promptly.

Operators must provide clear notice, apply reasonable security safeguards, and use methods or vendors likely to provide reasonably accurate age results.

The policy statement remains in effect until the FTC finalizes related COPPA rule amendments or withdraws the statement.

The statement gives age-assurance providers and online services a clearer federal compliance path, but only where age checks are tightly scoped and separated from broader profiling or reuse.


UIDAI deploys AI-powered 'Invisible Shield' for Aadhaar biometric deduplication

Summary: India's UIDAI says it has deployed an AI-enabled biometric deduplication and document-verification platform, described as an 'Invisible Shield,' to strengthen integrity checks across the Aadhaar identity system.

UIDAI said every new Aadhaar enrollment is cross-checked against the full enrolled population to detect duplicates and anomalies at population scale.

The authority framed the system as a fraud-control layer that improves deduplication and document verification without changing the resident-facing experience.

The rollout extends AI use inside one of the world's largest biometric identity systems rather than introducing a new credential or enrollment workflow.

The update matters because Aadhaar's scale makes deduplication quality a core trust issue: even small error rates or fraud gaps can propagate across banking, welfare, and authentication flows tied to the national ID system.


Aware announces third-party testing results across PAD, bias testing, DHS RIVR, and passkey readiness

Aware released external validation results across ISO/IEC 30107-3 Level 2 presentation attack detection, ISO/IEC 19795-10 bias testing, DHS Rapid Identity Verification Rally participation, and FIDO2 passkey readiness.

Key facts:
- Aware achieved ISO/IEC 30107-3 Level 2 PAD certification, covering advanced presentation attack scenarios.
- The company also demonstrated ISO/IEC 19795-10 bias testing compliance and FIDO2 passkey readiness.
- DHS RIVR participation builds on Aware's top performance in prior DHS security testing announced in June 2025.


Microsoft Teams faces Illinois class action over alleged voiceprint collection without consent

A class action filed February 5, 2026 alleges Microsoft Teams collected and stored voiceprints through its transcription and voice-to-text features without the disclosures or written consent required by Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act.

Key facts:
- BIPA requires written notice and consent before collecting biometric data; statutory damages range from $1,000 per negligent violation to $5,000 per intentional or reckless violation.
- The lawsuit parallels other enterprise platform cases, including scrutiny of Verizon's Voice ID feature, extending BIPA exposure into workplace collaboration tools.
- Transcription features in video conferencing are increasingly central to enterprise workflows, making voiceprint collection a growing area of regulatory attention.


MOSIP and WSO2 partner on eSignet modernization for national digital identity systems

WSO2 announced a strategic collaboration with IIIT Bangalore and MOSIP to modernize eSignet, the open-source identity authentication and authorization module that enables citizen single sign-on for government digital services via OpenID Connect protocols.

Key facts:
- eSignet supports consent-based identity data sharing and is used by countries building authentication layers for digital public infrastructure.
- WSO2 provides open-source middleware and API management platforms used by governments for identity federation across multiple countries.
- The partnership enhances deployment readiness and interoperability for national digital identity programs built on the MOSIP ecosystem.


Onondaga County advances biometric surveillance signage bill after Wegmans controversy

Onondaga County, New York advanced legislation requiring businesses to display visible notices before any area where biometric data—including facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and voice recognition—is collected, following Wegmans' adoption of biometric disclosure signage and broader retail scrutiny in New York and Connecticut.

Key facts:
- The bill covers surveillance, access control, and customer tracking uses of biometric identifiers in commercial settings.
- Enforcement mechanisms include monetary penalties for non-compliance; the bill advanced through committee in mid-February 2026.
- Wegmans posted biometric disclosure signage at New York City locations in January 2026, prompting the county's legislative action.


Mitek enhances video verification to counter injection attacks in Spanish market

Mitek enhanced its SEPBLAC-compliant digital onboarding platform for Spain with four defense layers against injection attacks—deepfake detection, digital manipulation analysis, injection attack protection, and face gallery analysis—achieving 99.9% accuracy on known deepfake engines and over 99% detection rates for face swaps.

Key facts:
- 89% of Spanish companies reported increased fraud attempts annually, with identity fraud the leading cause of corporate fraud loss in Spain.
- The update aligns with February 2025's new European injection attack standard, CEN/TS 18099:2025.
- Mitek's approach combines AI-trained detection with traditional software checks targeting coordinated fraud attempts during onboarding.


Spain's digital DNI achieves full legal parity with physical ID card

Starting April 1, 2026, Spain's digital National Identity Document—accessed via the MiDNI mobile app using secure real-time QR codes—will carry the same legal weight as the physical ID card, requiring public and private organizations to accept it for identification purposes.

Key facts:
- The legal equivalence was established by Real Decreto 255/2025, published April 1, 2025, with a twelve-month implementation window.
- The physical DNI remains required for international travel; the digital version coexists as an extension rather than replacement.
- Spain joins a growing number of EU member states moving to grant mobile identity documents legal parity with physical credentials.


Wicket expands Major League Soccer agreement to deploy facial authentication across 2026 events

Wicket expanded its Major League Soccer agreement to deploy facial authentication as an identity layer for event operations across multiple 2026 league events, including Generation Adidas Cup, MLS NEXT Flex, and MLS NEXT Cup, as well as existing MLS club programs at LAFC, Columbus Crew, and Atlanta United.

Key facts:
- Wicket's facial authentication is designed to speed up check-in and reduce manual verification at stadium and event venues.
- The deployment extends to MLS NEXT developmental competitions and multiple league events throughout 2026.
- Earlier 2025 Wicket deployments supported MLS NEXT competitions and the All-Star Game in Austin.


Innovatrics claims top rank-1 accuracy in latest NIST ELFT latent fingerprint benchmark

Innovatrics reported top rank-1 accuracy in the latest results from NIST's Evaluation of Latent Fingerprint Technologies (ELFT), achieving a 98.6% rank-1 hit rate on FBI Dataset #1 comprising 285 operational crime-related fingerprint probes.

Key facts:
- NIST ELFT measures how accurately systems identify suspects from crime scene fingerprints against large operational databases.
- Rank-1 hit rate indicates how often the correct subject appears first in candidate lists, reducing manual review time for forensic examiners.
- Innovatrics also demonstrated strong performance on the DoD Dataset #1, the benchmark's largest dataset with 5,259 operational probes.


Pakistan's NADRA formally rolls out Nishan Pakistan for unified identity verification

NADRA formally launched Nishan Pakistan on February 10, 2026, a centralized one-window platform designed to standardize identity authentication services across public and private sector applications, consolidating fragmented verification channels into a unified digital trust infrastructure.

Key facts:
- Nishan Pakistan aims to reduce duplication across verification touchpoints and accelerate digital onboarding for regulated workflows.
- The platform builds on prior NADRA initiatives including a 2025 biometric bank deposit service and an all-in-one digital ID kit launched in March 2025.
- NADRA Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar formally launched the system; specific technical integration timelines were not announced.


U.S. Customs and Border Protection signs Clearview AI deal for tactical targeting

U.S. Customs and Border Protection signed an agreement with Clearview AI for facial recognition services covering tactical targeting and strategic counter-network analysis, granting access to more than 60 billion publicly available images and extending the company's federal footprint across Department of Homeland Security agencies.

Key facts:
- The CBP deal follows an existing $9.2 million ICE contract with Clearview AI, reflecting broader DHS adoption of the company's face-search technology.
- Clearview AI's database is sourced from publicly available images scraped from the internet; the company faces ongoing litigation over its data collection practices.
- The contract covers use within CBP intelligence units for counter-network analysis, extending beyond isolated investigative checks.


iBeta liveness certifications point to market shift as Level 2 becomes the norm

An analysis of iBeta's 2025 certification activity—55 confirmation letters covering 40 companies—finds a near-even split between Level 1 and Level 2 presentation attack detection certifications, indicating that Level 2 is transitioning from a premium feature to a baseline procurement requirement, particularly in financial services and identity verification.

Key facts:
- Passive liveness approaches accounted for the majority of certifications in 2025, meaning systems that require no explicit user action.
- Identity verification providers represent over half of certified companies, reflecting certification's role as a standard procurement prerequisite.
- iBeta introduced Level 3 testing in mid-2025 targeting advanced attacks such as hyper-realistic masks, expected to shape market conversations in 2026.


UIDAI plans full Aadhaar app with family verification and privacy-first sharing

India’s UIDAI said it plans to launch a full Aadhaar mobile app with family verification and privacy-first data sharing features.

Key facts:
- The planned app is positioned as a full-featured Aadhaar app for mobile use.
- UIDAI says the app will support consent-based sharing and family verification workflows.


Malaysia endorses Zetrix proof-of-age model tied to national digital ID

Malaysia endorsed a Zetrix proof-of-age model that is linked to national digital ID verification, positioning it as an approach for age assurance.

Key facts:
- The model is designed for proof-of-age checks tied to national digital ID verification.
- Government endorsement signals official support for the approach.


Paravision and emaratech deploy face recognition corridor at Dubai airport

Paravision and emaratech deployed a face recognition corridor at Dubai International Airport to support passenger processing.

Key facts:
- The deployment is at Dubai International Airport.
- The corridor uses face recognition for identity checks in the passenger flow.


Margins ID Group wins contract for Gambia national and digital ID systems

Margins ID Group was awarded a contract to implement Gambia’s national ID and digital ID systems.

Key facts:
- The contract covers both national ID and digital ID system components.
- Margins ID Group is the awarded implementer.


Manila’s NAIA rolls out 78 biometric eGates

Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport rolled out 78 biometric eGates for passenger processing.

Key facts:
- The rollout includes 78 biometric eGates.
- The system supports automated border checks at NAIA.


UK begins trials of a digital driving licence in the GOV.UK One Login app

The UK government began trials of a digital driving licence delivered through the GOV.UK One Login app.

Key facts:
- The trial runs within the GOV.UK One Login identity service.
- The digital licence is being tested as a mobile alternative to the physical card.


India mandates biometric liveness checks and geo-tracking for crypto KYC

India issued requirements for cryptocurrency KYC that include biometric liveness detection and geo-tracking during onboarding.

Key facts:
- KYC procedures must include biometric liveness checks.
- Geo-tracking is required as part of the onboarding process.


TSA launches PreCheck Touchless ID at Boston Logan Airport

The TSA launched PreCheck Touchless ID at Boston Logan Airport, allowing identity verification without handing over a physical ID.

Key facts:
- Touchless ID uses facial matching for eligible TSA PreCheck travelers.
- Boston Logan is a new deployment location for the program.


Alabama Bill Would Authorize Optional Mobile Driver's License and Digital State ID

Summary: Alabama's House Bill 110 would authorize an optional mobile driver's license and digital state ID credential tied to the existing physical license system. The proposal keeps physical IDs valid and frames the digital credential as an additional format for on-demand presentation.

HB 110 defines a digital driver's license and digital identification card as electronic credentials derived from the corresponding physical ID.

The bill makes participation voluntary and keeps physical licenses and IDs valid.

The draft includes limits on what a verifier can require from the holder's device when presenting digital ID.

If enacted, the bill would establish a legal framework for state-issued mobile ID without mandating adoption or specifying a vendor.


Cameroon Councils Begin Issuing Digital Birth Certificates in UNDP-Backed Project

Summary: Local councils in Cameroon have begun issuing digital birth certificates under a UNDP-backed project aimed at modernizing civil registration and expanding access to legal identity. The shift signals operational issuance at the municipal level rather than only policy announcements.

Implementation is being carried out through local councils responsible for registering births.

UNDP frames the project as a modernization of civil registration and vital statistics.

Digital birth certificates support access to services that require proof of identity.

Digitizing birth registration can improve coverage and reliability for downstream identity and service systems.


ShopRite Facial Recognition Use Draws Scrutiny as Connecticut Considers Retail Restrictions

Summary: CT Insider reports facial recognition signage at ShopRite stores across Connecticut as lawmakers move toward legislation that would restrict biometric collection in retail. The disclosures highlight data sharing and retention practices while the state debates new limits.

Reporters saw facial recognition notices at seven of eight ShopRite stores visited; staff confirmed use at the eighth.

Signage says facial geometry is analyzed for security and non-matched data may be retained for up to 90 days.

Connecticut legislators say they plan to introduce a bill that would prohibit biometric collection in retail settings.

Retail biometric deployments continue to attract regulatory attention as states weigh consent, notice, and retention requirements.


Somalia Estimates $125 Million to Complete National Digital ID Rollout

Summary: Somali officials estimate about $125 million is needed to complete nationwide rollout of the national digital ID program. The estimate targets full operational coverage, with funding sources not yet specified.

Officials cite the estimate as the cost to reach nationwide deployment from current progress.

The program recently launched national identity platforms including HUBIYE for identity verification and e-Aqoonsi for mobile digital IDs.

No detailed cost breakdown or funding source has been published.

The estimate underscores the funding requirements that often surface when national ID programs move from pilots to population-scale issuance.


Telefonica Tech Launches Self-Sovereign Identity Platform Based on Verifiable Credentials

Summary: Telefonica Tech launched a self-sovereign digital identity solution that stores verifiable credentials on user devices and supports selective disclosure. The company says organizations can issue, verify, and revoke credentials for use cases such as age checks and access control.

Credentials are stored locally on user devices with user-controlled sharing.

The platform supports issuance, verification, and revocation of verifiable credentials.

Telecom and enterprise use cases cited include age verification, access control, and digital certificate issuance.

The launch adds another commercial option for organizations evaluating privacy-preserving credential models.


Accenture and NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL Launch Universal Wallet Infrastructure for Digital Identity

Summary: Accenture and NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL announced Universal Wallet Infrastructure (UWI), described as an interoperability-focused infrastructure layer intended to support digital identity and digital trust use cases.

The companies frame UWI as infrastructure that can support multiple wallets rather than a single wallet product.

Accenture describes an initial early-adopter phase under letters of intent.

The announcement emphasizes cross-organization credential exchange as a goal of the infrastructure approach.

Wallet infrastructure layers can become important coordination points for interoperability, governance, and trust frameworks as multiple issuers and relying parties adopt credential-based identity models.


Accu-Time Agrees to Proposed $1.5M Settlement in Illinois BIPA Fingerprint Time Clock Case

Summary: Accu-Time Systems agreed to a proposed $1.5 million settlement in an Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action related to fingerprint time clock use.

Settlement materials describe a $1.5 million fund with estimated individual payments ranging from about $100 to $500 depending on approved claims.

The claims deadline is March 12, 2026 and a final approval hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2026, according to the settlement site.

The case highlights compliance risk for workplace fingerprint time and attendance systems under Illinois biometric privacy law.

Fingerprint time clocks are a recurring category in BIPA litigation, where disputes often focus on written consent, retention schedules, and disclosure obligations.


Credas Reports First Property Transaction Using Its Compliance Wallet

Summary: Credas says its Compliance Wallet was used to complete a live UK property transaction, positioning the wallet as a reusable way to share verified identity and compliance information across parties.

Credas describes a “share once” model intended to reduce repeated identity and compliance checks during property transactions.

The announcement describes the first transaction as completed with DezrezLegal, according to company and trade reporting.

Public materials do not clearly specify which credential standards or trust frameworks underpin the wallet implementation.

Early digital wallet deployments in regulated sectors often demonstrate workflow value before standardization details (formats, issuers, and relying party requirements) are fully visible.


FaceTec Appoints Cameron D’Ambrosi as Head of Strategic Partnerships for North America and EU

Summary: FaceTec appointed Cameron D’Ambrosi as Head of Strategic Partnerships for North America and the European Union, describing the role as focused on expanding deployments of its 3D face verification and liveness technology.

FaceTec describes the role as spanning enterprise integrations and public-sector digital identity programs.

D’Ambrosi is identified as a co-founder of Liminal and host of the State of Identity podcast.

FaceTec positions liveness detection as a control for AI-enabled fraud and presentation or injection attacks.

Partnership and go-to-market moves in liveness technology often track shifts in fraud patterns, regulatory expectations, and the adoption of biometric verification across consumer and public-sector channels.


Jordan Enables Instant Digital ID Activation in the Sanad App

Summary: Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship says a Sanad app update enables in-app digital identity activation, removing the requirement for in-person activation.

The ministry says users can activate a digital identity directly in the app rather than visiting a physical Sanad service center.

The updated app includes access to official digital documents such as national ID cards and driver’s licenses, according to public reporting.

Officials reported usage metrics including monthly users and activated digital identities following the update.

Moving digital ID activation fully remote can materially change assurance assumptions and fraud risk, depending on the proofing and account recovery controls used inside the app.


Ethiopia Issues Tender for 20 Million Pre-Personalized Secure Resident ID Cards

Summary: Ethiopia’s National ID Program published a procurement notice for supply and delivery of 20 million pre-personalized secure resident ID cards.

The notice text specifies a bid submission deadline of January 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM local time in Addis Ababa with a public opening shortly after.

The notice specifies bid security of ETB 14,000,000 (or equivalent convertible currency) via bank guarantee.

The tender references beneficial ownership disclosure requirements for bidders.

Large-scale secure card procurement can signal a transition from enrollment to issuance, with card personalization scope and supply-chain controls becoming central implementation risks.


Neurotechnology Reports Level 2 PAD Evaluation for Face Liveness Technology

Summary: Neurotechnology says its face liveness and presentation attack detection technology passed a Level 2 evaluation aligned with ISO/IEC 30107-3, conducted by BixeLab.

The company describes Level 2 testing as covering more sophisticated presentation attacks than Level 1, including variants beyond printed photos or screen replays.

Neurotechnology’s announcement does not disclose quantitative metrics or test configuration details.

ISO/IEC 30107-3 defines testing and reporting requirements for PAD but does not prescribe a universal pass/fail threshold.

Third-party PAD evaluations can be used to compare spoof-resistance claims, but without published operating points and error rates they provide limited insight into deployment tradeoffs.


UIDAI Raises Aadhaar PVC Card Fee and Discontinues Hologram

Summary: India’s UIDAI increased the Aadhaar PVC card service fee and issued guidance discontinuing the Aadhaar hologram on the optional physical card product.

UIDAI’s memo raises the Aadhaar PVC card fee from ₹50 to ₹75, inclusive of taxes and delivery charges.

UIDAI issued a circular stating Aadhaar PVC cards will be issued without the hologram feature.

UIDAI also published guidance related to preventing unauthorized use of the Aadhaar name and logo.

Updates to physical credential features and pricing can affect adoption dynamics and the balance between physical-card verification and QR or digitally mediated Aadhaar verification flows.


Kantara Opens Public Comment on Identity Assurance Criteria Aligned with NIST SP 800-63 Rev. 4

Summary: Kantara opened public comment on draft updates to its Identity Assurance Framework intended to align assessment criteria with NIST SP 800-63 Revision 4, with comments due January 20, 2026.

Kantara describes the draft as criteria aligned with SP 800-63-4A, which covers identity proofing and verification requirements.

Kantara indicates future volumes will address authentication (63B) and federation (63C) criteria to align with the broader NIST model.

Alignment can affect certification and trustmark pathways where programs reference NIST assurance levels.

Assurance criteria updates can influence how identity service providers are assessed and how relying parties interpret proofing, authentication, and federation controls.


Pakistan’s NADRA Introduces Facial Recognition Certificate for Biometric Verification

Summary: Pakistan’s NADRA launched a facial-recognition-based verification certificate intended to provide a contactless alternative for individuals who cannot complete fingerprint-based checks.

Local reporting describes the certificate as issued after facial biometric verification against NADRA’s identity database.

Reports describe a printed certificate with a QR code for validation by institutions that require biometric confirmation.

Coverage cites an expected issuance timeline of about seven days and a low fee.

Multimodal verification pathways can improve accessibility for populations where fingerprints are degraded or difficult to capture, but they also shift operational reliance toward face capture and matching governance.


UK Digital ID Consultation Reported to Slip into 2026

Summary: UK reporting indicates the government’s public consultation on national digital ID plans may not begin until 2026, with governance work described as shifting to the Cabinet Office.

Reports describe the consultation as expected “in the new year,” after earlier statements referenced a 2025 timeline.

Coverage attributes the timing shift to a governance transfer from DSIT to the Cabinet Office.

Downstream sequencing questions include which credentials are prioritized first and how trust framework certification is governed.

National digital identity programs frequently depend on consultations and governance decisions that shape assurance levels, interoperability expectations, and oversight structures.


Federal Judge Blocks Texas Law Requiring App Store Age Verification

Summary: A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking Texas SB 2420, which would have required app stores to verify user age and obtain parental consent for minors.

The injunction prevents enforcement of the law while litigation proceeds in federal court.

SB 2420 would have required age verification before app downloads or access to paid in-app content, and parental verification and consent for users under 18.

The court compared the law’s effect to requiring age checks before entering a bookstore, according to reporting on the decision.

Age assurance debates often hinge on where verification is performed (platform vs. app), what data is collected, and how minors’ privacy and parental consent requirements are implemented in practice.


UK Opens Registration for Deepfake Detection Challenge 2026

Summary: UK government bodies opened registration for the Deepfake Detection Challenge 2026, an exercise intended to benchmark and test deepfake detection tools in adversarial scenarios.

Public materials describe a two-stage format: a benchmarking phase and a scenario-based exercise.

The initiative is linked to the Home Office, DSIT, The Alan Turing Institute, and the Accelerated Capability Environment.

The challenge targets risks associated with synthetic media, including identity and security use cases such as remote verification and fraud investigations.

Deepfake detection is increasingly treated as a practical component of anti-spoofing and fraud defense, especially when identity verification depends on media authenticity.


Aruba Airport Launches Enhanced Passenger Processing with CBP and iProov

Summary: Aruba Airport Authority says Enhanced Passenger Processing is live at its U.S. Pre-Clearance facility, using facial biometrics to verify travelers against passport data and CBP’s Traveler Verification Service.

The deployment is described as available automatically to U.S. citizens departing Aruba without pre-enrollment.

The airport authority says travelers typically do not need to present a physical passport unless additional review is required.

The program is positioned as reducing queues and processing time through biometric identity verification.

Enhanced Passenger Processing deployments illustrate how facial biometrics are being integrated into pre-clearance and border workflows as an alternative to routine document presentation.


India’s National Testing Agency Adds Live Photo Capture and Reported Facial Checks for Exams

Summary: India’s National Testing Agency (NTA) updated exam materials to require live photo capture during registration, while media reports say additional facial verification measures may be expanded at exam centers.

NTA’s 2026 Information Bulletin specifies that applicants must submit a live photograph captured via camera or webcam, with a QR-code-based fallback option.

Media reporting describes plans to compare candidates at exam entry against previously captured images to deter impersonation and exam fraud.

Public reporting has not clearly established whether Aadhaar-based e-KYC is required for these workflows across all exams.

At large scale, face-based candidate verification raises operational questions about error handling, privacy controls, and how image capture and matching are governed across diverse exam sites.


Peel Regional Police Issues RFP for Cloud-Based AFIS Integrated with RCMP RTID

Summary: Peel Regional Police issued an RFP for a cloud-based automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) integrated with the RCMP’s real-time identification capability.

The tender describes a 60-month procurement for supply, implementation, and support of an AFIS-RTID solution.

The listing describes a questions deadline of January 20, 2026 and a bid closing date of January 28, 2026.

The listing identifies several plan takers, including Canadian entities associated with large identity and biometrics vendors.

Cloud-based AFIS procurement can indicate a shift toward managed biometric identification infrastructure and closer integration between municipal policing workflows and national databases.


Airports Group Warns of Disruption Risk as EU Entry/Exit System Scales Up

Summary: ACI EUROPE called for an urgent review of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), citing outages and operational issues that it says could cause disruption as processing volumes increase in early 2026.

ACI EUROPE says EES began operations on October 12, 2025 and uses facial images and fingerprints to register third-country nationals entering and exiting the Schengen Area.

ACI EUROPE cites planned increases in the share of travelers processed through EES, including a published target of roughly 35 percent starting January 9, 2026.

The group cites airport reports that processing times at some locations increased by as much as 70 percent compared with pre-EES baselines.

Large-scale biometric border systems can create queueing and safety risks when biometric capture, matching, or downstream infrastructure does not reliably operate at peak throughput.


NEC and emaratech Deploy Biometric Smart Gates for flydubai Crew at Dubai Airport

Summary: NEC and emaratech say they deployed facial-recognition smart gates to automate immigration clearance for flydubai crew in a dedicated operations environment at Dubai International Airport.

The deployment is described as scoped to flydubai crew operations rather than general passenger processing.

NEC says the system is based on its NeoFace Express X5 facial recognition terminal and matches against immigration records maintained by Dubai’s residency and foreigners affairs authority.

The companies frame the gates as reducing manual document checks and processing time for crew movement through secure areas.

Operational biometric deployments at airports are expanding beyond passenger checkpoints into workforce and logistics flows where throughput and access controls are tightly coupled.


OpenID Foundation Sets Date for Verifiable Credentials Conformance Self-Certification

Summary: The OpenID Foundation says implementers will be able to self-certify against OpenID4VP 1.0, OpenID4VCI 1.0, and HAIP 1.0 via its conformance testing platform starting February 26, 2026.

The conformance suite is described as open-source tooling that can be run locally or against OpenID-hosted servers.

OpenID says organizations can submit self-certified test logs for publication on its certification site, with publication optional.

The foundation says it plans to introduce additional accreditation services in 2026 following the self-certification launch.

Conformance testing is often used to reduce ecosystem fragmentation when multiple wallet, issuer, and verifier implementations need to interoperate across jurisdictions.


Whistleblowers Raise Security Concerns About the UK GOV.UK One Login Program

Summary: ITV News reports that whistleblowers have raised security concerns about the UK government’s GOV.UK One Login system, which supports access to online services and is linked to planned digital identity initiatives.

ITV reports One Login is used by an estimated 13 million people and is positioned to underpin the GOV.UK digital wallet concept.

Reported concerns include whether One Login is meeting required UK government cyber standards and how access to sensitive components is controlled.

A UK government spokesperson told ITV it works with the National Cyber Security Centre and addresses issues identified through testing.

Digital ID platforms that centralize access to government services tend to concentrate risk, making security governance, monitoring, and incident response central to program trust.


CLEAR Adds Passport-Based Digital ID Creation in Its App

Summary: CLEAR says users can create a passport-based digital ID inside the CLEAR app, extending its mobile identity verification offering for travel-related use cases.

The workflow is described as creating a digital ID derived from a passport within a mobile app.

The feature expands the set of identity documents supported by CLEAR’s identity verification flows.

The announcement reflects continued movement toward reusable mobile identity credentials in travel contexts.

Passport-derived digital IDs in consumer apps highlight an emerging model for reusable identity verification, while raising questions about interoperability, privacy controls, and acceptable uses.


Ethiopia Plans Secure Physical ID Cards Linked to Fayda Digital ID

Summary: Ethiopia says it will begin issuing secure physical ID cards tied to its Fayda digital identity system, aiming to support in-person identity checks and biometric authentication for eKYC workflows.

The National ID Program says the card issuance work is part of expanding the Fayda digital ID ecosystem.

Officials describe the cards as supporting higher-assurance in-person identity verification.

The program is positioned as enabling biometric authentication within identity proofing and verification flows.

Ethiopia’s plan to add secure physical ID cards alongside Fayda reflects a common pattern in national identity programs: pairing a digital ID platform with card-based credentials to support both online and in-person verification.


California DOJ Opens Comment Period on Age Assurance Practices

Summary: California’s Department of Justice has invited public comments on age assurance practices, reflecting ongoing regulatory scrutiny of how online services verify age while managing privacy and risk.

The request focuses on implementation questions for age assurance approaches used by online services.

Age assurance can involve document checks, biometrics, or attribute-based verification, each with different privacy and accuracy tradeoffs.

Public input can influence how requirements are interpreted and enforced across sectors.

Regulatory consultations on age assurance often become de facto guidance on acceptable data collection, retention, and fallback processes when automated checks fail.


Denmark Selects Signicat for EU Digital Identity Wallet Work

Summary: Denmark’s digital government agency selected Signicat for work related to a digital identity wallet aligned with EU eID requirements, including onboarding and document verification flows.

Reported scope includes identity proofing and verification workflows for Denmark’s planned wallet implementation.

The work references NFC document verification as part of identity checks.

The selection reflects continued European build-out of interoperable wallet implementations tied to eIDAS requirements.

Wallet initiatives increasingly translate policy into concrete onboarding pipelines, including document verification, credential issuance, and step-up verification for higher-risk transactions.


Quebec Launches Consultation on Digital Identity, Biometrics, and Data Sharing

Summary: Quebec launched a public consultation on digital identity that includes questions about biometrics and data sharing, reflecting how subnational governments are shaping governance for identity modernization.

The consultation frames digital identity as part of public service modernization and online access.

Biometrics and related privacy safeguards are included among the topics under consideration.

Outcomes may influence rules for data sharing, consent, and acceptable authentication methods in government services.

Public consultations can set practical boundaries for identity systems—especially around biometric use, data minimization, and how credentials are shared across agencies and partners.


Swissbit Adds HID Seos Support to iShield Key 2, Expands Enterprise Passkey Use

Summary: Swissbit added HID Seos support to its iShield Key 2 portfolio, positioning a single enterprise token for both FIDO2/WebAuthn passkeys and physical-access credential deployments.

The update adds Seos support for physical access systems alongside FIDO2 authentication capabilities.

Swissbit describes multiple iShield Key 2 variants, including a Pro version aimed at broader credential use cases.

The announcement reflects enterprise interest in consolidating logical-access and physical-access credentials.

Hardware tokens that bridge physical and logical access can simplify credential issuance and lifecycle management, but also concentrate risk if token governance and recovery processes are weak.


UIDAI Publishes Fingerprint SDK Benchmark Results Using Child Growth Dataset

Summary: India’s UIDAI released results from a fingerprint-SDK benchmarking challenge that evaluates one-to-one verification using child fingerprints collected across multi-year intervals.

The dataset tests long-term matching performance as children’s fingerprints change over time.

UIDAI frames the benchmark as supporting evidence-based assessment of fingerprint SDK performance.

The agency indicated plans for similar benchmarking efforts for face and iris modalities.

Longitudinal benchmarks can help national ID programs and relying parties design age-appropriate authentication policies, including re-enrollment triggers and fallback mechanisms when match confidence drops.


Dubai Launches Citywide One-Time Biometric Hotel Check-In

Summary: Dubai is preparing a citywide hotel check-in program that lets visitors complete identity verification once on a mobile device and then reuse biometric authentication for subsequent stays at participating properties.

The program is described as allowing travelers to submit ID details and biometrics (including a facial scan) before arriving.

Officials say the onboarding remains valid until the underlying identity document expires.

The rollout is positioned for use across Dubai’s hotel sector rather than property-by-property enrollment.

Citywide onboarding models reduce repetitive check-in friction, but require clear rules around consent, retention, revocation, and how biometric profiles are shared across hotels and other tourism services.


Ireland Advances Draft Law on Police Use of Biometric Recognition Tools

Summary: Ireland has advanced draft legislation intended to define how police can use biometric recognition tools in investigations, including governance and safeguards for biometric matching systems.

The draft is positioned as clarifying legal bases and oversight for biometric recognition in investigative contexts.

Policy debates typically focus on proportionality, accuracy, bias risks, and limits on surveillance use.

Legislation can shape requirements for warrants, auditing, retention, and permissible datasets.

As jurisdictions legislate biometric recognition for law enforcement, the details of scope, oversight, and operational constraints often determine whether deployments remain tightly bounded or expand over time.


Pakistan Orders Exchange Companies to Add Facial Recognition to Biometric Checks

Summary: Pakistan directed exchange companies to add facial recognition as part of biometric identity verification processes, reflecting continued expansion of multi-modal checks in regulated financial workflows.

The directive is framed as strengthening identity verification for higher-risk transactions and fraud prevention.

Facial recognition is positioned as an additional modality alongside existing biometric checks.

The move illustrates how financial compliance controls increasingly rely on biometric identity verification.

Multi-modal identity checks can reduce certain fraud vectors, but depend on strong governance for accuracy monitoring, fallback processes, and appropriate handling of biometric data.


Printed Face Masks Can Bypass Weak Attendance Face Recognition, Report Says

Summary: A reported demonstration shows printed face masks can deceive a facial-recognition-based attendance system, underscoring the need for robust presentation attack detection and system-level controls.

The attack uses low-cost physical presentation artifacts rather than sophisticated synthetic media.

Weak or missing liveness/PAD checks increase the risk of impersonation in face-based authentication.

Higher-assurance deployments typically combine PAD with policy controls, auditing, and fallback verification.

Face-based attendance systems are particularly sensitive to spoofing because incentives for circumvention are high and operational oversight is often limited, making PAD and governance controls critical.


U.S. Education Department Says Identity Verification Blocked $1B in Student-Aid Fraud

Summary: The U.S. Department of Education says it blocked more than $1 billion in attempted student-aid fraud in 2025 after requiring mandatory identity verification for certain first-time FAFSA applicants.

Flagged applicants must present unexpired government ID in person or via live video, according to the department.

The department cited detection of high volumes of suspect identities as a driver for stronger front-end proofing.

The change reflects a broader shift toward higher-assurance identity proofing to counter automated fraud.

As fraud becomes more automated, agencies and platforms are increasingly moving identity proofing earlier in the process, trading additional friction for reduced downstream losses.


Spanish Airport Operator Aena Fined €10M Over Biometric Boarding

Summary: Spain’s data protection authority has fined airport operator Aena €10 million over its biometric boarding program, citing GDPR violations in how passengers’ facial images were collected and processed.

The sanction relates to Aena’s use of facial recognition for automated boarding at Spanish airports.

Regulators found shortcomings in informed consent, transparency, and the legal basis for processing biometric data.

The case highlights regulatory scrutiny of airport facial recognition schemes across Europe.

Spain’s AEPD has imposed a €10 million GDPR fine on airport operator Aena for its facial recognition boarding program, spotlighting legal risks when biometric border control deployments lack clear consent, transparency, or lawful basis.


Alaska Explores AI-Driven Digital ID Wallet for myAlaska

Summary: The State of Alaska is exploring an AI-enabled digital identity wallet and upgraded myAlaska app, aiming to give residents a secure, mobile way to prove identity and access online government services.

An Alaska RFI seeks ideas for a digital ID wallet linked to the myAlaska account used for state services.

Officials are considering AI and automation to improve identity verification and fraud detection.

The initiative reflects growing U.S. state-level interest in mobile digital IDs and government service wallets.

Alaska is testing the waters for a digital ID wallet connected to its myAlaska digital services account, signaling a move toward mobile-first identity credentials and experimenting with AI to streamline verification and fraud controls.


EU Lawmakers Back EU-Wide Age Checks for Social Media

Summary: The European Parliament has backed an EU-wide framework for age checks on social media platforms, pushing for consistent rules on how providers verify that under-16s are kept off services where they are not allowed.

MEPs support mandatory age checks for platforms with minimum age requirements, with safeguards against excessive data collection.

The proposal emphasizes privacy-preserving age assurance, avoiding general monitoring of all users.

If finalized, the framework would force platforms to standardize age checks across EU member states.

EU lawmakers are pressing for harmonized, privacy-aware age checks on social media, signaling that platforms will need robust age assurance mechanisms to keep under-16s off services where they are not permitted.


Indian States Curb Aadhaar Use as Proof of Birth

Summary: Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have stopped accepting Aadhaar as proof of birth for civil registration, signaling a tighter interpretation of India’s national digital ID system and its role in age and identity verification.

State authorities in UP and Maharashtra now require birth certificates or hospital records rather than Aadhaar for proof-of-birth documentation.

The move responds to central government guidance that Aadhaar is an identity number, not a proof of birth or citizenship.

The change affects how residents prove age and identity in procedures such as school enrollment and access to entitlements tied to date of birth.

Two of India’s largest states, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, have stopped accepting Aadhaar as proof of birth for civil registration and public services, reinforcing guidance that the national digital ID is an identity number rather than a birth or citizenship document.


Intercede Wins at Least $4.2M in New Digital ID Deals

Summary: UK-based identity and credential management specialist Intercede has announced at least $4.2 million in new digital identity contracts, underscoring continuing demand for high-assurance credentialing and access control.

The new contracts span government and enterprise customers for digital identity and credential management solutions.

Intercede highlights growing interest in strong authentication and lifecycle management for digital credentials.

The wins add to a broader trend of increased spending on high-assurance digital ID infrastructure.

Intercede has reported at least $4.2 million in new digital identity contracts across government and enterprise customers, reflecting sustained demand for strong credential management and access control platforms.


UK Puts First Price Tag on National Digital ID Scheme

Summary: UK officials have released the first public cost estimate for a national digital ID scheme, offering a clearer view of the investment required to roll out government-backed digital identity services.

The estimate covers multi-year spending on infrastructure, integration, and operations for a nationwide digital ID system.

It follows earlier work on GOV.UK One Login and related identity assurance initiatives.

Publishing cost projections is meant to increase transparency and inform debate over benefits, risks, and alternatives.

The UK has moved from vision to budget planning for a national digital ID scheme by publishing an initial multi-year cost estimate, setting the stage for more detailed scrutiny of how digital identity investments will be prioritized and governed.


Vietnam Banking Rules Push Customers to Chip IDs and VNeID

Summary: Vietnam’s central bank is tightening know-your-customer (KYC) rules for banks and payment firms, effectively steering customers toward chip-based ID cards and the VNeID digital identity app for account opening and remote transactions.

New regulations require banks and payment institutions to authenticate customers against the national population database using chip-based ID cards or VNeID.

The shift aims to reduce manual ID checks and improve remote onboarding and transaction security.

Legacy paper ID documents become less usable for high-assurance financial services as the rules take effect.

Vietnam’s banking and fintech sector is being pushed to rely on chip-based citizen ID cards and the VNeID app for identity verification, as regulators tighten KYC rules and require electronic checks against the national population database.