Alaska Awards Thales Contract for Next-Gen Driver’s License and ID Cards

Alaska has awarded Thales a contract to produce the state’s new generation of secure driver’s licenses and ID cards featuring polycarbonate technology. This marks the second consecutive contract between Thales and the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), extending their partnership for up to 10 years, with approximately 225,000 licenses and ID cards issued annually.

The new cards will include translucent windows, using Thales’ Window Lock technology, which embeds a secondary portrait that becomes visible when held up to light. These enhancements are designed to increase counterfeit protection and data security.

“Thales’ proven expertise in document security and groundbreaking features align perfectly with our goal to safeguard Alaskans’ identities while delivering top-notch service,” said Lauren Whiteside, Division Operations Manager for the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. “This renewed partnership signifies a steadfast dedication to fortifying our credentials and protecting our citizens’ personal information against evolving threats.”

Thales’ Cogent Multi Biometric System will provide additional security by verifying biometric data during citizen enrollment to prevent identity fraud and theft. The new cards, designed to be both visually identifiable and resistant to tampering, will be available at all Alaska DMV locations starting in fall 2024.

“Thales looks forward to this next chapter of our partnership with the State of Alaska for providing sophisticated driver’s license solutions,” said Tony Lo Brutto, Vice President for Thales Identity and Biometric Solutions in North America. “We will continue leveraging our industry expertise and enabling Alaska to be at the forefront of secure identity documents.”

Lo Brutto spoke in detail about the military defense applications of Thales’ biometric technology on the ID Talk podcast this past April. A couple of months after that, Thales announced the launch of Passwordless 360°, a platform designed to provide comprehensive passwordless authentication across various user types and security levels. The platform includes features like Passwordless Windows Logon, SafeNet FIDO Key Manager, and FIDO Authenticator Lifecycle Management, developed with Versasec, enabling organizations to manage FIDO tokens efficiently and transition to modern authentication standards.

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September 16, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis