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:
PayPal, Visa Back PopID’s Biometric Payment Network in Major Funding Round
PopID has secured new equity funding from Verifone, PayPal, Visa Ventures, Commerce Ventures, and Chipotle’s Cultivate Next fund to expand its global biometric payment network. The company enables face and palm-based authentication at POS terminals, offering a privacy-focused alternative to traditional payment methods. Backed by partnerships with Verifone and J.P. Morgan Payments, PopID aims to build an open-loop infrastructure that connects biometric ID to various payment and loyalty systems. With millions of authentications already processed and integration into Verifone’s 45 million-device network, PopID is scaling biometric checkout across retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors.
Half of European E-commerce Now Uses Mastercard’s Tokenized Payments
Mastercard reports that 49 percent of all e-commerce transactions in Europe now use tokenization, marking rapid progress toward its goal of eliminating manual card entry and passwords by 2030. Tokenization replaces sensitive card data with a secure digital token, reducing fraud risk, while Mastercard’s new Payment Passkey Service combines biometric authentication with tokenized payments via its Click to Pay platform. The shift reflects broader adoption of phishing-resistant passkeys across the payments industry, driven by EU regulations and consumer demand for streamlined, secure checkout experiences.
Finland and Bahrain Partner to Develop Cross-Border Digital ID Systems
Finland and Bahrain are exploring a partnership to develop interoperable digital identity systems, combining Finland’s experience with EU-aligned infrastructure and Bahrain’s biometric-based eKey 2.0 platform. The initiative aims to enhance government services and support cross-border use while maintaining security and privacy standards. Finland’s leadership in digital travel credentials and its role in the EU Digital Wallet Consortium position it as a key collaborator. Bahrain’s integration of digital ID into financial services and public platforms reflects its regional push toward digital transformation.
New Prism Report Tackles Deepfake Threat
Acuity Market Intelligence projects global losses from deepfake-enabled fraud could reach $40 billion annually by 2027, citing increasing threats from synthetic identities across finance, healthcare, government, and travel sectors. The latest Prism Project report categorizes deepfakes into image, video, and audio types, and introduces a synthetic identity classification system. It calls for layered defenses using biometric liveness detection, document validation, and cryptographic tools, alongside industry initiatives like C2PA. Companies such as Adobe and iProov are named as leaders in countering these risks.
NZ Privacy Chief Clears Supermarket Facial Recognition Trial Despite Concerns
New Zealand’s Privacy Commissioner has ruled that Foodstuffs North Island’s facial recognition trial complied with the Privacy Act, citing strong safeguards such as rapid deletion of non-matching scans and dual staff verification on watchlist alerts. Conducted across 25 stores, the trial processed 226 million scans and reportedly reduced harm incidents by 16 percent. Despite compliance, concerns persist following a misidentification case and broader debates around biometric governance. The Commissioner plans to issue updated biometrics guidance later in 2025, emphasizing the need for necessity, transparency, and accountability in future retail deployments of facial recognition technology.
Manila Airport to Roll Out Facial Recognition Across All Terminals
The Philippines will deploy facial recognition technology across all terminals of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as part of a broader digital modernization initiative. The system, integrated with e-Gates, will automate identity checks at immigration and security points, beginning with international terminals in late 2025. Backed by President Marcos Jr., the rollout aims to improve security and streamline passenger processing. It complements national digital ID efforts under PhilSys and follows the appointment of Collins Aerospace to lead NAIA’s infrastructure upgrades.
GLEIF Launches Global Partner Program to Boost Legal Entity ID Adoption
GLEIF has launched a global Partners Program to accelerate adoption of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) and verifiable LEIs (vLEIs), fostering collaboration among financial institutions, data vendors, and tech providers. Founding members include JacobsenID, Montran, and NETS Solutions. The initiative builds on GLEIF’s recent partnerships and expansion in Asia, including new vLEI issuers in Thailand and Hong Kong. It aligns with updates to ISO 17442, now supporting vLEIs, and aims to establish interoperable, secure digital identity systems for legal entities.
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June 4, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
