Biometric technology provider Identy.io has entered into a new partnership with anti-trafficking nonprofit The Exodus Road to expand the use of digital identity verification tools in field investigations. The collaboration, announced today, will see Identy.io donate its smartphone-based biometric application to The Exodus Road, giving investigators touchless fingerprint and facial recognition capabilities to speed up the identification and rescue of trafficking victims.
Smartphone-Based Biometric Verification
Identy.io’s solution uses the camera and LED flash of a standard smartphone to capture high-quality biometric data, eliminating the need for specialized fingerprint scanners or other hardware. This mobile-first design makes the technology practical for field teams working in remote or resource-limited environments where access to equipment may be restricted. The ability to conduct immediate biometric checks on-site addresses a critical challenge in trafficking cases, as victims often lack reliable identity documents or are forced to use fraudulent papers.
The technology recently underwent NIST performance testing and ranked among the top results in the PFT III benchmark. It achieved very low error rates across multiple datasets and processed matches in under one millisecond, with average results around 992 microseconds. The platform also supports both touch and touchless fingerprint data, increasing its interoperability across different investigative settings and legacy systems.
Impact on Trafficking Investigations
Human trafficking investigations are often complex and time-sensitive, requiring law enforcement to verify identities quickly in order to protect victims and disrupt criminal networks. By equipping field teams with touchless biometric tools, the partnership aims to shorten the time victims spend in exploitation and improve the efficiency of rescue operations.
“As a nexus crime, human trafficking cases are notoriously complex. The horrendous nature of the exploitation victims experience demands quick action,” said Matt Parker, Chief Investigative Officer and co-founder of The Exodus Road. “We’re grateful to Identy.io for donating its touchless scanning, which will be revolutionary in maximizing law enforcement resources and expediting the ability to identify victims.”
The Exodus Road has reported rescuing more than 6,000 survivors and assisting in over 1,800 arrests since its founding. The addition of smartphone-based biometric verification is expected to enhance its operational impact, particularly in regions where investigators face barriers to accessing traditional tools.
Broader Context
The United Nations projects that more than 50 million people will be living in trafficking exploitation globally by 2025, underscoring the urgency of deploying scalable identification technologies. The Identy.io–Exodus Road partnership highlights how advances in mobile biometrics are being adapted beyond commercial applications and into humanitarian and law enforcement efforts.
By providing investigators with real-time identity verification using nothing more than a smartphone, the collaboration demonstrates how innovation in biometric capture and matching can translate into tangible improvements in anti-trafficking operations worldwide.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
