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:
Sworn Raises $1.2M to Advance Biometric Monitoring of Law Enforcement
Utah startup Sworn has secured $1.2 million in seed funding to develop biometric systems that monitor law enforcement officers’ stress levels using commercial wearables like Garmin devices. Led by ex-police officer Sean Bair and co-founders Adam Safir, Andy Dillon, and Gene Kohut, the platform aims to support officer wellness and accountability, though it faces privacy and deployment questions. No independent validation studies have been released to date.
IDnow and Keyless Partner on Continuous Identity Verification
IDnow has partnered with Keyless to integrate biometric multi-factor authentication seamlessly into identity verification processes. The collaboration enables silent enrollment of users into Keyless during IDnow onboarding, reducing friction across digital identity lifecycles. While the technology leverages privacy-preserving cryptography, future integrations with digital-signature services and compliance with EU AI Act rules remain areas to watch.
JTB and Hitachi Launch Biometric Ticketing Pilot in Japan
JTB and Hitachi have partnered on the tebu-Ride PASS, a smartphone-based digital ticket system using facial recognition and beacon technology. The pilot starts 1 August 2025 on Shodoshima island, aiming to replace physical tickets and enhance tourist experiences. The system uses Hitachi’s Public Biometric Infrastructure, raising privacy debates about centralized biometric template storage. The solution operates on a post-payment model rather than prepayment as initially reported.
CBX Adds Facial Recognition to Cross-Border Pedestrian Bridge
The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) pedestrian bridge connecting San Diego and Tijuana’s airport has implemented facial biometric screening, becoming the latest—though not the first—U.S.–Mexico land crossing with such technology. The system integrates with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s broader Simplified Arrival program, which already covers all Southwest pedestrian crossings since 2021. Privacy safeguards differ between U.S. and Mexican practices, with the U.S. retaining citizen images for 12 hours.
France Adds Digital Vehicle Registration to France Identité App
France has launched the option to store digital vehicle registration documents (carte grise) in the France Identité app, effective 30 June 2025. Eligible only for vehicles registered from 2009 onward, the digital document complements rather than replaces the paper version, which is still required for travel abroad. The move aligns with the EU’s upcoming digital wallet regulations, though company vehicles and foreign residents are currently excluded from the service.
Datavault AI Joins White House Advisory Council, Showcases VerifyU
Datavault AI has become a founding member of the White House Experience Advisory Council, a private initiative supporting historical engagement. The company also showcased its blockchain-based VerifyU digital identity platform at the Cowboys Gathering, highlighting use cases in athlete name-image-likeness credentials. Despite ambitious claims, VerifyU’s adoption remains largely in demonstration phases, with no third-party security audits published.
iProov Appoints Alex Pearson as Chief Revenue Officer
Biometric firm iProov has named Alex Pearson as Chief Revenue Officer to drive global revenue expansion. Pearson’s background spans cybersecurity and digital identity companies including Appgate and Ideagen. The move comes amid rising demand for biometric authentication and follows iProov’s integration into Microsoft Entra’s identity ecosystem. iProov’s earlier NHS mobile login integration dates back to 2020 and remains in active use.
W3C Publishes Digital Credentials API Draft for Web Identity
The W3C has published its first public draft of the Digital Credentials API, aiming to enable cryptographically verifiable digital IDs directly in browsers. The specification provides standardized credential issuance and presentation flows and anticipates privacy measures like zero-knowledge proofs. Chrome and Safari have begun experimental support, while Firefox remains cautious due to privacy concerns. The standard could become final in 2026–27, aligning with the EU Digital Identity Wallet timeline.
UK Government Signals New Facial Recognition Law as Privacy Debate Grows
The UK government plans to introduce legislation to regulate police use of facial recognition technology, aiming to fill a legal gap currently managed only through general data protection laws and non-binding guidance. Minister Lord Hanson confirmed proposals are forthcoming, though no bill has been published. The move follows criticism from privacy advocates, legal rulings like the 2020 Court of Appeal decision against South Wales Police, and international developments such as the EU’s AI Act, which restricts real-time facial recognition. The newly appointed interim Biometrics Commissioner, Francesca Whitelaw KC, is expected to play a key role in shaping oversight.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
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