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:
Turkey to Integrate Blockchain into National Digital ID System
Turkey is enhancing its digital identity system by integrating blockchain technology into the T.C. Kimlik Karti program, which has issued smart ID cards to over 83 million residents since 2017. The system, managed by the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) and TUBITAK, stores biometric and personal data on embedded chips, leveraging blockchain for improved privacy and transparency. The digital ID integrates with public and private services, including healthcare, voting, and banking, with several Turkish banks already adopting the system for customer verification.
VFS Global Launches Digital Platform for Indonesia’s Electronic Visa on Arrival System
VFS Global has launched an online platform to streamline Indonesia’s Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application for citizens of 97 countries, including South Africa. The system enables end-to-end online processing with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for automatic data entry and group booking features for agencies and event organizers. Applicants receive pre-approval and can bypass traditional immigration queues at major entry points, such as Bali and Jakarta, using E-gates or designated counters. Customer support is available in seven languages, with plans for expansion, and the system aligns with Indonesia’s digital infrastructure enhancements, including biometric verification systems.
Belgium’s Enabel Updates IT and Biometric Equipment Tender for DRC Development Project
Enabel, Belgium’s development agency, has issued a tender for supplying office, computing, and biometric equipment to a partner institution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The tender includes establishing a server room, providing desktop computers, and renewing biometric equipment as part of efforts to modernize the DRC’s digital infrastructure. Contracts will begin on February 17, 2025, with an 18-month duration. Bid submissions must be made in French or Dutch by January 28, 2025, via physical delivery, as electronic submissions are not permitted. The evaluation process will consider price competitiveness and quality, adhering to Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) standards to ensure transparency.
Kuwait Education Ministry Launches Smartphone-Based Fingerprint Attendance System
Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has launched the first phase of a smartphone-based fingerprint attendance system for educational staff, replacing conventional fingerprint scanners. The system allows teachers and staff to record attendance via a mobile application, addressing issues with stationary devices such as maintenance costs and reliability. The initiative follows Kuwait’s broader biometric adoption efforts, which achieved 98 percent compliance nationwide. This new system supports real-time attendance monitoring and aligns with recent advancements, including facial recognition and fingerprint verification measures introduced in other government sectors.
Dominican Republic to Launch Electronic Passports with Biometric Features in August
The Dominican Republic will launch electronic passports in August 2025, featuring embedded biometric data such as fingerprints and photographs, along with ultraviolet watermarks and chip protection. The passports will comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc 9303 standards, enhancing document security. The initiative, designated a national security priority through Decree 282-23, aims to strengthen border security and improve international travel facilitation. Development began in 2021, with infrastructure and maintenance contracts finalized in 2024 under the oversight of the General Directorate of Passports.
Russian Hackers Breach Ukraine’s Digital Infrastructure, Impacting Diia Mobile ID
A cyberattack by Russian hacking group XakNet has compromised Ukraine’s state registries, including biometric and property records managed by the Justice Ministry, and disrupted government services accessed through the Diia mobile application. The attack exposed vulnerabilities in Diia’s centralized backend, Trembita, which connects government databases and serves as a critical digital identity platform. Although Trembita reportedly operated as designed, its centralized architecture has been criticized as a significant weakness. The breach exposed sensitive personal data, including addresses, family relationships, and assets, raising risks of identity theft, phishing, and targeting of military personnel.
Cyprus to Launch EU-Compliant Digital ID System with Early Adoption Incentives
Cyprus will launch its electronic identification system, IDMe.cy, on January 27, 2025, enabling citizens to access digital identification compliant with European Union eIDAS standards for secure cross-border transactions. The first 30,000 applicants will receive eIDs free of charge, with the next 70,000 paying a subsidized fee of €15, compared to the standard €50 for a three-year validity. The system, certified at the highest eIDAS security level, integrates with the CY Login platform and Hippodamos system, with future expansions planned for the Companies Registrar, Intellectual Property Office, and Department of Road Transport.
Brazil’s Viracopos Airport Launches Comprehensive Biometric Boarding System
Viracopos International Airport in Campinas, Brazil, has become the first in the country to implement a comprehensive biometric and automated boarding system, with a full rollout planned by mid-2025. The system includes 11 automated biometric e-Gates, seven for restricted area access and four at boarding lounges for domestic and international flights. Passengers can opt for facial recognition-based biometric processing, registering at check-in with data valid for five years, or use traditional manual boarding pass scanning. GOL will be the first airline to adopt the system, with Azul scheduled to follow in 2025.
Lytx Settles $4.25M Biometric Privacy Lawsuit with Illinois Truckers
Lytx has agreed to a $4.25 million settlement in a biometric privacy lawsuit filed by truckers in 2020, alleging violations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit focused on Lytx’s biometric data collection practices within its driver monitoring technologies, part of a broader trend of BIPA litigation in the transportation sector involving companies like Penske Logistics and Omnitracs. Enacted in 2008, BIPA requires explicit consent for collecting biometric data, such as facial scans and fingerprints, with non-compliance leading to significant legal action. Recent amendments to BIPA, including S.B. 2979 signed in 2024, limit liability to a single violation per person and recognize electronic signatures for consent.
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January 21, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
