Malaysia’s National Security Council (NSC) has announced that MyDigital ID registration kiosks will be upgraded with real-time facial biometric verification, adding a new layer of identity security to the country’s expanding digital ID infrastructure.
Under the upgrade, kiosks will conduct real-time facial biometric verification against the National Registration Department’s database during the registration process. The measure is designed to strengthen the accuracy of identity verification while reducing the risk of identity misuse and unauthorized access, the NSC said in a statement.
Existing MyDigital ID users will also be required to undergo periodic facial biometric re-verification to ensure the ongoing integrity of their digital identities.
The security enhancements are being implemented in phases at all MyDigital ID kiosks. Maintenance work began on June 12 and is scheduled to run through June 14. During the upgrade period, new registrations can still be completed via mobile devices using the MyDigital ID app, available on the App Store, Google Play, and Huawei AppGallery.
MyDigital ID serves as a core component of Malaysia’s national digital identity ecosystem, facilitating identity verification across public and private sector digital services. The program has grown past 2.8 million registered users and has been integrated with multiple government platforms, including the MyJPJ transport services app.
The kiosk upgrade follows a broader push by the Malaysian government to strengthen identity infrastructure. The Dewan Rakyat passed the National Registration (Amendment) Bill earlier this year, which would require biometric data collection for all MyKad holders, including ten fingerprints, iris scans, and facial images.
The NSC said the growing use of digital services by the public, businesses, and government agencies has made protecting digital identities more critical, citing threats including online fraud, identity impersonation, data theft, and cyber exploitation. The council added that it will continue to work with relevant agencies to coordinate security measures across identity and verification platforms, including MyKad, to ensure citizens’ digital identities remain protected.
Sources: The Star
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
