FaceTec’s UR code technology, which embeds secure biometric data directly onto identity credentials, is now entering proof of concept pilot programs with state Departments of Motor Vehicles. The development was confirmed by FaceTec’s Jay Meier in an interview with ID Talk on the show floor of last month’s Identity Week America conference.
The initiative marks a significant step toward addressing the persistent problem of sophisticated fake IDs. By adding a scannable, encrypted biometric layer to driver’s licenses, the UR code platform is designed to enable real time verification that the person presenting a credential is its legitimate owner.
Speaking with ID Talk’s Alex Perala, Meier discussed the technology’s progress since first introducing the concept at Identity Week America in 2024, where he outlined how UR codes function as secure, high density QR codes containing a privacy preserving Biometric Face Vector of the cardholder. When a credential is presented, a quick face scan powered by FaceTec’s 3D liveness technology can confirm a match. The process authenticates the human, not just the card, a principle central to FaceTec’s identity framework.
The DMV pilots are part of a wider rollout of the UR code system. The technology has already been demonstrated in limited deployments with municipal police departments and has attracted several major integrator partners. The expansion builds on the company’s earlier milestone when the UR Code protocol passed an independent security review with no vulnerabilities found and on its subsequent cryptographic upgrade designed to keep the format secure through at least 2035. FaceTec also introduced UR Encoder software that allows institutions to generate and issue UR codes internally, supporting decentralized credential issuance.
The technology’s potential extends far beyond driver’s licenses. Meier described how a state Medicare official immediately recognized its ability to reduce healthcare fraud by verifying the identities of both patients and providers. The approach could be applied across sectors where identity assurance remains a critical challenge.
FaceTec has complemented these developments with its Scan and Match app, which enables smartphones to scan and verify UR codes, and with continued security advancements in its 3D Face Verification engine, recently certified at Level 4 security. Together, these systems form the foundation for biometric identity verification that links physical credentials to living individuals in real time.
To hear the full interview with Jay Meier and learn more about the UR code pilot phase, listen to the latest episode of ID Talk through the media player below or wherever you get your podcasts.
–
By the ID Tech Editorial Team
