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:
Milwaukee Police Department Weighs Facial Recognition Expansion Amid Public Opposition
The Milwaukee Police Department says it has not yet decided whether to expand facial recognition technology, citing the need for continued public dialogue. The department has discussed a potential agreement with Biometrica, a data and identity platform that provides access to third-party facial recognition services. City opposition includes a unanimous Equal Rights Commission resolution and a letter from eleven Common Council members warning of misidentification risks and damage to community trust. MPD has used facial recognition in some investigations, including a July homicide case, and maintains access to more than 900 privately owned residential cameras through Community Connect Milwaukee. The department has not released details on safeguards such as match thresholds, human review, or data retention.
North Carolina Election Board Bars Digital IDs, Extends 2025 Voting Plan Deadlines
North Carolina’s State Board of Elections has settled a lawsuit with the Republican National Committee, confirming that only physical IDs listed in state law will be accepted for voting unless the legislature authorizes digital alternatives. The settlement resolves a 2024 dispute over the use of digital student IDs at UNC-Chapel Hill. Acceptable IDs include driver’s licenses, non-operator state IDs, U.S. passports, and qualifying student or employee IDs. At its August 8 meeting, the Board also extended the deadline for counties to submit early voting plans for the 2025 municipal elections to August 15, giving local boards more time to set locations, hours, and weekend availability. Lawmakers are considering broader election reforms that could affect registration, absentee voting, and ballot counting.
Flare Launches Luminite Wallet With Seedless Login and XRP DeFi Access
Flare Network has released Luminite, a non-custodial wallet that replaces seed phrases with passkey, biometric, or email authentication. Built on Turnkey’s embedded wallet infrastructure, Luminite offers fiat on-ramps for purchasing FLR and XRP and supports DeFi functions such as staking, token swaps, and cross-chain bridging via Stargate. In the coming months, it will add XRP-to-FXRP conversion through Flare’s FAssets system, enabling further staking and liquidity options for XRP holders. The design targets both experienced crypto users and newcomers by combining institutional-grade security with a Web2-style interface. Adoption is expected to hinge on Flare’s total value locked, liquidity incentives, and developer integrations.
Arkansas Mobile IDs Now Accepted at TSA Checkpoints Nationwide
Arkansas residents can now use mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs at TSA checkpoints in more than 260 U.S. airports, following completion of TSA testing in early August. The Mobile ID program, launched in March 2025, has over 30,000 users and allows identity and same-day flight status to be confirmed at the TSA ID checkpoint without presenting a boarding pass, though boarding passes are still needed for gate procedures. The system will integrate with Google and Samsung digital wallets in early fall, with Apple Wallet support planned later. Louisiana’s LA Wallet recently gained nationwide TSA acceptance, and Iowa has added Google Wallet integration to its program. REAL ID requirements apply to both digital and physical IDs for air travel as of May 7, 2025.
Dubai International Airport Launches ‘Unlimited Smart Travel’ for Rapid Biometric Immigration
Dubai International Airport has introduced the “Unlimited Smart Travel” system, allowing eligible passengers to clear passport control in about 14 seconds via a biometric corridor that processes up to 10 travelers at once. Operated by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs–Dubai, the program is currently available in Terminal 3 lounges and verifies identities against pre-registered government records without manual document checks for qualifying passengers.
TSA Expands Touchless ID to 14 Airports for PreCheck Travelers
The TSA has rolled out its PreCheck Touchless ID program to about 14 airports, enabling eligible PreCheck members with valid U.S. passports to verify their identity at security checkpoints via facial recognition instead of presenting a physical ID. In participating lanes, a camera captures a live image and matches it to existing government records through U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Traveler Verification Service. The system, offered in partnership with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, is available at hubs including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York–LaGuardia, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.
iProov Expands Airport Biometric Deployments to Boost Security and Speed Passenger Processing
iProov is expanding its facial verification and liveness detection technology across airports worldwide to speed passenger processing and strengthen border security. The company’s solutions support mobile pre-enrollment and walkthrough identity checks at multiple touchpoints, including check-in, security, lounges, and boarding, reducing the need for repeated document presentation.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team