The Biometrics Institute has published its State of Biometrics Report 2025, developed with input from its Future Direction Group. The report centres on the theme of maintaining trust in biometric systems as artificial intelligence reshapes both defensive capabilities and potential attack methods. The Institute’s latest Annual Industry Survey found that 85 percent of respondents believe deepfakes and AI-enabled presentation attacks will remain a significant concern for biometric recognition systems in the year ahead.
Focus on liveness, privacy and governance
The report places renewed attention on liveness detection and anti-spoofing techniques as essential safeguards against manipulated biometric inputs. It also notes growing interest in multimodal biometric systems that combine multiple signals to improve resilience against synthetic media. This reflects ongoing discussions within the Institute on future defence strategies, as seen in recent deepfake defence sessions convened by members.
Privacy is a central theme in the 2025 edition, particularly in relation to real-time identification systems. Earlier this year, the Institute revised its Privacy Guidelines to reflect the implications of AI and emerging neurotechnology, reinforcing principles of proportionality and user control. The report reiterates that biometric deployments should be evaluated not only on technical performance but also on governance and accountability standards.
There is continued focus on standards and consistent guidance for biometric use in public environments. This follows member-led calls for clearer frameworks on facial recognition deployment in public spaces to ensure proportional use and public transparency. The Institute emphasises that adopting common standards remains a priority for maintaining public confidence.
Interoperability and emerging modalities
The report also highlights digital identity interoperability as a key area of development, noting that biometrics are increasingly embedded in digital wallets and credential ecosystems. The Institute, which represents more than 200 organisations across 43 countries, promotes its Three Laws of Biometrics — Policy, Process and Technology — as a structured approach to biometric implementation. It also encourages members to align with its Good Practice guidance when deploying biometric systems across sectors.
Beyond established modalities such as face and fingerprint recognition, the report notes growing examination of DNA and voice as biometric signals, particularly as digital identity systems evolve and the range of supported verification methods expands. These developments are being tracked within the Institute’s programme of work to ensure that emerging modalities are introduced with the same focus on policy, process and governance as established systems.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
