ID Tech Digest – May 28, 2025

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:

Tencent Rolls Out Palm Payment System in Thailand, Challenging Alipay

Tencent is preparing to launch palm biometric payment technology in Thailand following a successful pilot with Visa in Singapore. The system uses palm print and vein scanning for secure, contactless transactions, aligning with Thailand’s push toward a cashless economy. Tencent is exploring partnerships and regulatory pathways, competing with Ant Group’s similar offering. The move reflects growing regional adoption of biometric payments amid evolving eKYC rules and data protection laws.

Anonybit Launches First Decentralized Platform for AI Agent Identity Security

Anonybit has launched a decentralized biometrics platform for identity-bound AI agents, combining multimodal authentication, a decentralized data vault, and identity token management to secure agentic workflows. The platform anchors AI actions to verified users while maintaining privacy through fragmented data storage. Supported by new patents and partnerships with SmartUp, EyeLock, ID R&D, and Armatura, the solution enables compliant, secure AI use in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government.

Japanese eKYC Leader Liquid Wins Major StoneX Contract for Identity Verification

Liquid Inc. has retained its lead in Japan’s eKYC market for the sixth year, holding 66 percent market share in banking and 96 percent in telecom, according to ITR. StoneX has adopted LIQUID eKYC for FOREX.com Japan, citing its real-time image quality feedback and improved user completion rates. With over 130 million identity checks completed and recent acquisition of Polarify, Liquid continues to expand its biometric capabilities and strengthen compliance amid growing cybersecurity threats.

Biometric Inmate Monitoring Program Saves Lives, Reports Regina Police Service

The Regina Police Service reports that its biometric monitoring pilot has saved five lives since launching in March 2024. Installed in 10 detention cells, the system tracks heart and respiratory rates to detect medical distress, enabling rapid officer response. The initiative reflects a broader trend in Saskatchewan police departments adopting biometric monitoring for in-custody health. As the pilot enters evaluation, its success may prompt discussion on future expansion and detainee privacy considerations.

Kurdistan Region Updates Biometric Data for 350,000 Citizens in Major ID Drive

The Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk have completed over 350,000 biometric data renewals as part of Iraq’s broader effort to modernize its identity system ahead of the November 11, 2025 parliamentary elections. Led by IHEC, the campaign has processed 1.6 million updates nationwide but still needs to reach over 8 million voters. The updated system includes fingerprint and facial recognition, with facial biometrics used as a fallback at polling stations. Integrated with the Thales-managed Injaz data center, the initiative aims to enhance voter verification and combat credential fraud.

Palestinians Reportedly Flock to Gaza Aid Centers Despite Biometric Screening Effort

The newly opened U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid centers have seen large crowds despite controversy over proposed biometric screening of recipients. Intended to block aid diversion to Hamas-linked individuals, the facial recognition system has faced technical delays and criticism from agencies like UNICEF over neutrality and data privacy. Early operations were chaotic, with injuries reported and limited screening observed. The centers may expand to northern Gaza, but questions remain about biometric implementation amid severe logistical and humanitarian challenges.

Nigerian Court to Rule on Future of National Biometric Banking System

Nigeria’s Federal High Court will rule on July 4, 2025, in a case that could redefine control of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system. NIBSS is seeking legal affirmation of its mandate to manage the biometric database, while the Central Bank of Nigeria argues it retains regulatory ownership. The BVN system secures over 64 million accounts using fingerprint and facial biometrics. The verdict may impact Nigeria’s broader biometric ID infrastructure, including efforts to unify BVN and national identity data under a multipurpose ID card.

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May 28, 2025 – by Tony Bitzionis and Alex Perala