The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is expanding its Remote Identity Validation Rally to test identity verification systems against AI-generated documents, face-swap videos and more sophisticated physical spoofs. The Science and Technology Directorate will open separate application rounds for document checks, selfie matching, presentation attack detection and biometric deepfake detection.
The first round opens in October for companies that validate identity documents or match a selfie to the photograph on an ID. Document validation testing will include distinguishing genuine credentials from fraudulent ones, including fakes generated with artificial intelligence. The selfie track will assess whether the person presenting an image matches the document holder.
In November, DHS will seek contributions from organizations able to produce or share identity deepfake examples and the methods used to create them. Requested material includes face-swap videos and digitally generated or altered identity documents. The directorate plans to use those contributions to build a more comprehensive attack dataset for its evaluations.
Applications for two further tracks open in December. Presentation attack detection will address physical attempts to deceive biometric capture, such as masks and photographs. Biometric deepfake detection will focus on AI-generated impersonations, including those used in video chats and teleconferencing.
The expanded program builds on the 2025 challenges with a wider collection of genuine and fraudulent passports and driver’s licenses. It will also cover additional use cases and assess differences among verification products, smartphones, document characteristics and operating conditions.
DHS has previously tested remote identity systems against realistic fraudulent documents, including counterfeits obtained through Homeland Security Investigations’ forensic laboratory. That work separates document authentication, selfie spoof detection and face matching rather than treating remote verification as a single test.
The new challenges are intended to measure performance against realistic attacks and inform technology standards. They are separate from the department’s procurement planning, including its recent request for industry information on a Biometric Examination Tool.
DHS is inviting both established providers and startups to participate. Companies interested in an evaluation track or in contributing attack data can register for an informational webinar scheduled for September 30 through the rally program or the directorate’s people-screening team.
Sources: Department of Homeland Security
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
