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:
Bumble Adds ID Verification to Fight Dating App Romance Scams
Bumble has introduced biometric ID verification, developed with Veriff, across 11 markets including the US and UK, aiming to combat rising romance scams on its dating platform. Users can now verify their identities through government-issued IDs and selfie biometrics, earning a verified profile badge. Additional safety features include the ability to share date details in real-time with trusted contacts and filter for verified profiles. This rollout coincides with increased market demand for strong identity solutions and follows similar moves by competitor Tinder, though Bumble recently faced legal challenges related to biometric data privacy.
Met Police to Install First Permanent Facial Recognition Cameras in London
The Metropolitan Police will install the UK’s first permanent facial recognition cameras in Croydon, South London, marking a significant shift from mobile deployments to fixed surveillance infrastructure. Mounted on lampposts and buildings, the cameras will scan faces against a criminal suspect database, building on the Met’s previous success, which led to 540 arrests in 2023. While local officials support the move, privacy advocates warn of serious implications for civil liberties and demand stronger legislative oversight. The decision aligns with broader national trends, as more UK police forces, including Essex Police, adopt facial recognition systems.
iProov Launches Biometric MFA Solution to Combat Rising Workforce ID Theft
iProov has introduced “Workforce MFA,” a facial biometric authentication solution designed to combat workforce identity theft through liveness detection and device-binding technology. This new offering responds to a sharp increase in sophisticated cyber threats, including a recent 2,665 percent rise in virtual camera attacks. Workforce MFA ensures genuine user presence, preventing deepfake or spoofing attempts. The launch builds on iProov’s successful biometric deployments, such as its partnership with Microsoft Entra ID and recent high-security implementations with the UK Border Force, reinforcing protection for remote workforces against evolving cybersecurity threats.
OpenID Foundation to Demo New AuthZEN Standard with 15 Industry Partners
The OpenID Foundation will demonstrate its new AuthZEN authorization standard at Gartner’s Identity and Access Management Summit in London on March 24-25, 2025, featuring real-world interoperability among 15 participating companies. AuthZEN co-chairs David Brossard and Omri Gazitt will present “AuthZEN: the ‘OpenID Connect’ of Authorization,” emphasizing how the standard aims to revolutionize authorization practices industry-wide. The demonstration underscores growing industry support for standardized authorization, positioning AuthZEN as a potentially transformative framework in identity and access management.
Google Expands Screen-Off Fingerprint Unlock to Older Pixel Phones
Google has introduced screen-off fingerprint unlock capability to older Pixel devices in Android 16 Beta 3, enabling users of Pixel 6 series and later models to unlock their phones without first waking the screen. Previously exclusive to the Pixel 9, this feature represents a significant usability improvement, overcoming technical challenges related to under-display optical fingerprint scanners. Users can activate this option in device settings, with a broader rollout expected in the stable Android 16 release in late June 2025.
Digital Wallet Leaders to Headline Identity Week Europe 2025 Conference
Identity Week Europe 2025 has confirmed a prominent lineup for its digital wallets session, featuring executives from Credit Agricole, Audkenni, Swisscom, and key German institutions, exploring how digital wallet technology is transforming identity verification and transactions. Scheduled for June 17-18 in Amsterdam, speakers such as Patrick Agopian, Haraldur Bjarnason, Christina Hirsch, Mirko Mollik, and Christian Lange-Hausstein will discuss implementation across sectors and its impact on identity management. The conference emphasizes diversity and industry-wide perspectives, reflecting the growing significance of digital wallets in financial, telecom, and government services.
FacePhi Debuts AI Platform to Combat Money Mule Fraud in Banking
Facephi has introduced an AI-driven platform aimed at detecting money mule accounts and combating financial fraud through analytics, behavioral monitoring, and machine learning. The platform identifies suspicious transaction patterns and structured money laundering in real-time, extending Facephi’s biometric verification expertise into broader automated fraud prevention. This move addresses increased financial crime challenges post-pandemic, emphasizing interbank collaboration to strengthen anti-fraud measures across the financial sector.
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March 22, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala
