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:
Feedzai Lands ECB Fraud Role and $75M Investment
The European Central Bank has selected Feedzai as its top-ranked provider for fraud detection and risk scoring on the digital euro, under a framework agreement valued at up to €237.3 million. Feedzai paired the announcement with a $75 million funding round that raised its valuation to $2 billion, positioning the company to handle EU-scale transaction volumes alongside PwC.
Germany Mandates Live Biometric Enrollment for Passports
Germany has begun rolling out a national system of mandatory live biometric enrollment for passports and ID cards to counter face morphing attacks. More than 5,500 secure enrollment kiosks with presentation attack detection have been deployed, overseen by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). Officials say the move strengthens the integrity of breeder documents by eliminating self-submitted photos.
UK Government’s Digital ID Plan Faces Backlash
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan to introduce a mandatory “Brit card” digital ID for all workers by 2029 has sparked major backlash. A petition opposing the scheme has surpassed 1.6 million signatures. Critics argue the proposal threatens civil liberties and resembles mass surveillance, with opposition spanning civil groups and political parties including the Conservatives and Reform UK.
Canada’s Airports and Airlines Push for Biometric Travel
Canada’s aviation industry is lobbying Ottawa to authorize biometric screening and digital IDs for travel. The Canadian Airports Council and National Airlines Council of Canada argue that without regulatory updates, Canada risks falling behind peers such as the U.S. and EU. Air Canada has already piloted mobile-based digital ID boarding at Vancouver, but progress on national standards has been slow.
USCIS Finalizes New $85 Biometric Fee
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has implemented a new $85 biometric fee for select immigration court applications, effective October 2. The fee applies to EOIR-40, EOIR-42A, and EOIR-42B forms used in deportation proceedings. Advocates warn the fee could block vulnerable applicants from accessing legal relief, while USCIS says the change is part of a broader cost-recovery update.
Bybit Partners with Biometric.Vision in Kazakhstan
Global crypto exchange Bybit has partnered with Biometric.Vision to deploy biometric identity verification for its regulated operations in Kazakhstan. The partnership, announced at the Digital Bridge 2025 forum, integrates facial recognition and computer vision to strengthen KYC and AML compliance. The move aligns Bybit with local regulatory frameworks and signals commitment to the regional fintech ecosystem.
Georgia County Opens AI Crime Center with Clearview and Flock
Baldwin County, Georgia, has launched a $650,000 crime center using Clearview AI’s facial recognition system and Flock Safety’s license plate readers. Officials say the facility will boost efficiency for law enforcement, while civil liberties groups highlight growing concerns about oversight and accountability in local deployments of national-scale surveillance technologies.
Robo.ai Launches Smart Vehicle with Digital Identity and Wallet
Robo.ai and Changer.ae have unveiled “Roboy339”, a smart vehicle with a built-in digital wallet tied to its VIN. The vehicle can autonomously make payments for services such as charging and tolls, with regulatory backing from the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Robo.ai says the model could extend to eVTOLs, robotaxis, and logistics vehicles, reshaping asset management and usage-based finance.
Payabl Integrates Wero to Advance European A2A Payments
Fintech firm Payabl has joined the European Payments Initiative and integrated Wero, the pan-European digital wallet backed by major banks. Wero enables account-to-account payments on SEPA Instant rails, settling in under 10 seconds while bypassing card networks. Payabl’s early adoption is expected to accelerate merchant acceptance and expand consumer access across Europe.
CLEAR Expands CLEAR+ to 40 More Countries
CLEAR has opened enrollment in its CLEAR+ expedited identity lanes to passport holders from 40 additional countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The expansion follows an August rollout to UK, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand travelers. The move widens access for international visitors as TSA pilots biometric eGates at major U.S. airports.
By the ID Tech Editorial Team