Welcome to ID Tech’s digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
Trump Admin Launches Mandatory Biometric Registry for Undocumented Immigrants
The Trump administration has launched a new biometric registration portal requiring non-citizens aged 14 and older who’ve remained in the U.S. for over 30 days to submit fingerprints, addresses, and biographic data. The policy, implemented under Executive Order 14159, revives INA provisions and mandates in-person biometric appointments for many users. Exemptions apply to most lawful permanent residents and those with prior biometric submissions. Non-compliance may result in fines, jail time, or deportation. While the portal is currently free to use, DHS may add a fee later. Legal experts urge caution, especially for those with prior violations or criminal records.
Milwaukee Police Consider Sharing Mugshot Data in Exchange for Facial Recognition Tech
The Milwaukee Police Department is considering a controversial data-sharing agreement with private vendor Biometrica, in which it would exchange 2.5 million jail records and mugshots—including from individuals never charged or convicted—for access to the company’s facial recognition platform. The proposal has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and city officials, citing a lack of state or local biometric privacy laws, limited oversight, and no notification or consent for affected individuals. The deal requires approval from the Milwaukee Common Council, with public hearings expected in the coming weeks.
LinkedIn Expands ID Verification System to Third-Party Platforms
LinkedIn is extending its identity verification system to third-party platforms, allowing users to display a “Verified on LinkedIn” badge beyond the LinkedIn network. Early adopters include Adobe, Behance, UserTesting, TrustRadius, and G2. Users verify their identity via government IDs, professional emails, or phone numbers, depending on region and partner. Verification boosts engagement rates and is free to users. Underlying ID data is handled by partners and not shared with LinkedIn. The expansion supports broader efforts to enhance digital trust and authenticity across professional and creative ecosystems.
GLEIF Partners with Chinese Platform to Expand Global Business ID System
GLEIF has partnered with Chinese business information platform Qichacha (QCC) to link Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) with QCC Codes, aiming to improve the global visibility of Chinese companies and simplify cross-border due diligence. Monthly open-source mapping files will be published to support transparency and interoperability. The initiative follows GLEIF’s broader efforts to expand LEI and vLEI usage in Asia and enhance global adoption of standardized organizational identifiers. QCC’s database covers over 500 million Chinese entities, making it a key player in business verification services.
New Zealand Looks to Set Standards for Selfie ID Verification and Anti-Spoofing
New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs has launched a technical standards initiative for selfie capture and liveness detection, aiming to improve biometric identity verification systems without expanding surveillance. The effort supports upcoming biometrics code reforms and digital ID services like RealMe. The DIA is seeking expert input to ensure systems are secure, accessible, and capable of detecting spoofing, with data processing restricted to New Zealand. The initiative emphasizes transparency, equity, and performance benchmarks, addressing concerns raised during public consultations and aiming to reduce false match disparities affecting Māori and Pasifika users.
Cambodia Rolls Out Biometric ID Cards with QR Codes for Digital Services
Cambodia has launched a national electronic ID system integrating biometrics, QR codes, and secure digital authentication features. The new eID includes fingerprint, facial, iris, and voice data, plus a unique QR code and embedded chip for encrypted data storage. Issued to citizens aged 15 and older, the card supports civil registration reforms under the 2023 CRVSID law and aims to improve identity verification across government and private sectors. Officials cite compliance with international standards and cybersecurity safeguards, though the scale of biometric data collection raises ongoing data protection concerns. The rollout will proceed in phases.
WISeKey Expands Digital ID Solutions Across Africa Following Seychelles Success
WISeKey is in talks with several African governments to deploy national digital identity systems modeled after its SeyID platform in Seychelles. SeyID enables smartphone-based virtual IDs with features like e-wallets, digital signatures, and QR code verification. The company aims to tailor its solution to local contexts using Swiss-grade encryption and features such as digital tourist IDs and document wallets. The move aligns with continental efforts to improve digital infrastructure and identity coverage, but concerns persist around accessibility, legal safeguards, and potential exclusion. No specific contracts have been formally announced as negotiations continue.
Identy.io Joins Elite Group in NIST Fingerprint Recognition Testing
Identy.io has achieved top-tier rankings in NIST’s PFT III fingerprint matching evaluation, with its algorithm placing among the ten most accurate ever recorded and processing matches in under one millisecond. Its matcher, trained on both touch and touchless data, scored FNMRs as low as 0.0061 across multiple government datasets, with strong performance on mobile devices using only a camera and flash. These results validate Identy.io’s viability for mobile-first, high-assurance ID programs in sectors like government and healthcare, positioning it alongside industry leaders such as Aware and Innovatrics.
–
April 25, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
