ID Tech Digest – October 16, 2024

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:

Estonia Pursues Multimodal Biometric Enrolment App for e-Residency Program

Estonia’s Ministry of the Interior has issued a tender notice for a mobile-based biometric app supporting its e-residency program, set to close on October 24, 2024, with the project starting June 2, 2025, for 60 months. The app will facilitate self-service biometric data capture, including facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and document verification, allowing users to complete the e-residency application independently. The competitive dialogue procurement format enables the Ministry to collaborate with bidders on refining project requirements, focusing on quality and accessibility, with features for individuals with disabilities to ensure broad usability across Estonia’s regions.

DHS Teams with SpruceID on Digital Credentials

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is partnering with SpruceID through the Silicon Valley Innovation Program to develop secure, interoperable digital credentials for cross-border activities, including travel, immigration, and employment verification. SpruceID will use its open-source tools to build digital wallets and verifiers that comply with global standards like the W3C’s Verifiable Credential Data Model and Decentralized Identifiers. The partnership aims to create a privacy-preserving digital credentialing system that supports DHS’s privacy and security needs while establishing a framework for broader public and private adoption.

Paravision to Operationalize Deepfake Detection Tech with Five Eyes Partner

Paravision has secured a significant contract with a Five Eyes alliance government partner to operationalize its deepfake detection technology, marking the culmination of research and development that began in 2022 and expanded in 2023. The initiative aims to enhance Paravision’s deepfake detection software for high-stakes environments. While the specific Five Eyes member is undisclosed, all alliance members—the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—face deepfake-related security concerns, as highlighted in a RAND report on AI-driven geopolitical threats.

Consumers Embrace Biometrics Despite Data Worries in Aware Survey

Aware’s Biometrics Business Guide 2024: Consumer Trust Report tracks the mainstreaming of biometric technology, with over 75 percent of Americans and 80 percent of consumers across Western Europe, Asia, and North America using biometric features on smartphones for convenience and security. More than half of respondents regularly use biometrics on their devices, mainly for app access, although 41 percent express concerns about data security and distrust companies’ ability to handle biometric data responsibly. Banks are the most trusted with biometric data, while online gaming and gambling sites are the least trusted. Younger consumers show greater acceptance of biometrics, while privacy concerns deter around 70 percent of users over 35, underscoring a need for education to boost trust across age groups.

Behavioral Biometrics Startup Sardine Partners with Experian

Experian UK&I has partnered with Sardine to enhance its fraud and identity platform by integrating Sardine’s behavioral biometrics and device intelligence technology. Founded in 2020, Sardine identifies fraud indicators through analysis of user interactions, detecting threats like emulators, tampered apps, and VPNs in real time. This collaboration addresses the rising sophistication of online fraud, including methods like deepfakes and social engineering. Co-founded by former Revolut and Coinbase team members, Sardine has raised $75.6 million, with backing from Andreessen Horowitz, XYZ Ventures, and Nyca Partners.

ISO Aims for Organization-level Identity Assurance with vLEI Support

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has updated the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) standard, ISO 17442, to include verifiable LEIs (vLEIs), a digital identity innovation developed by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) to enable secure, decentralized authentication of organizational identities. Using Authentic Chained Data Container (ACDC) credentials and the Key Event Receipt Infrastructure (KERI) protocol, vLEIs ensure tamper-resistance and traceability, linking organizational data securely while managing cryptographic keys for identity validation.

De La Rue to Sell Authentication Arm to Crane NXT

Crane NXT has announced the acquisition of De La Rue’s authentication business for £300 million ($391.3 million), enhancing its security-focused portfolio with advanced solutions for government and corporate clients. The sale allows De La Rue to address financial issues, including debt reduction and pension obligations, while refocusing on its core currency production business, which may also be sold in the future. De La Rue’s authentication arm provides secure document solutions like tax stamps and brand protection services crucial to preventing counterfeiting. For Crane NXT, the move aligns with its growth strategy, incorporating De La Rue’s authentication expertise to strengthen offerings in secure document authentication, tax enforcement, and brand protection.

Newly Published ISO/IEC Standard Enables Remote IDV via Mobile Driver’s License

The newly published ISO/IEC TS 18013-7:2024 standard enables mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) to support remote identity verification (IDV) over the internet, expanding their use beyond in-person verification to online contexts. This standard allows individuals to securely confirm their identity via mDLs for remote onboarding and online transactions, making mDLs valuable digital identification tools. It specifies protocols, including device-based presentations and OpenID for Verifiable Presentations (OID4VP), allowing for flexible integration across online systems.

Uganda’s NIRA Aims for Voters with Nationwide Digital ID Enrolment

Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has launched a digital identity enrolment drive to register at least 17.2 million citizens aged 17 and above by November 23, 2024, in preparation for the 2026 elections. The initiative began on September 27, and aims to update the voter list by November 30, 2024. NIRA, in collaboration with the Electoral Commission and Ministry of Education, will operate registration daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The government has allocated 666.85 billion Shillings for renewing 15.8 million IDs, using 5,680 biometric kits with advanced iris scanners and deploying 13,000 personnel. NIRA is also coordinating with 90 institutions to ensure ID data accessibility.

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October 16, 2024 – by Alex Perala and Tony Bitzionis