Australia
A new digital ID service now lets Australians use their bank to verify their identity to third parties.
The recently-formed Australian Payments Plus (AP+) – a consolidation of domestic payment organisations BPAY, eftpos and NPP Australia – has worked with the country’s big banks on the ConnectID project.
It means that instead of providing proof of identity documents, people can now ask a participating business to verify their information using organisations they already trust with their data, like their bank.
ConnectID is now available to Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank customers on a number of use cases. Westpac and ANZ are also banking the system.
The system does not see or store personal information, it simply acts as a bridge between an organisation that wants to verify someone’s identity and the organisation providing that verification. This only happens when the customer authorises it.
Japan
A group of Japanese companies have formed a consortium to explore decentralised identities.
Eight firms came together to launch a digital identity (DID) and verifiable credential (VC) co-creation consortium (DVCC) to explore new use cases. The firms include banking giant MUFG, law office Anderson Mori and Tomotsune, and several Web3 firms, including Fujitsu, ITOCHU, TOPPAN Digital, and NTT Data.
The consortium will pursue self-sovereign identity functionalities, allowing users greater control over their details. The privately run DID project could have several uses in the local economy, including streamlining Know Your Customer (KYC) processes in finance.
The initial group of firms participating in the DID project encourages other companies to join the consortium, including educational firms, blockchain-based companies, and financial service providers.
United States
Alaska Airlines has released an NFC-based service called Mobile Verify that allows international travellers to complete their passport verification process before they enter the terminal. The process requires users to have the Airside Digital Identity App from Airside Mobile, take a selfie, and access passport data by reading its built-in NFC chip with their smartphone. The data is received, verified, and stored on the user’s phone. Once in the airport, they can move directly to check their bag and complete the TSA screening.
United States
Prove Identity has raised $40 million in a funding round led by MassMutual Ventures and Capital One Ventures.
Prove’s identity verification and authentication platform is used by nine of the top 10 US banks, two of the top three global cryptocurrency exchanges and a host of insurance giants.
The firm has recently struck deals with Visa and Experian and launched a tool for passwordless login and omnichannel authentication.
The new funding will be used to launch new commerce enablement and fraud-fighting use cases and to push global expansion.
Colombia
Thales is expanding its collaboration with SoyYo, a digital identity provider for companies in Colombia, introducing FIDO2 passkeys for passwordless authentication. This implementation will enable millions of Colombians to connect with their digital identities and access digital services without typing any usernames and passwords.
Zambia
Cape Town-based digital identity startup iiDENTIFii has partnered Zambian bank Zanaco to roll out its identity solution to Zambian consumers and citizens.
iiDENTIFii has developed advanced face authentication technology that safely authenticates users via their cell phones or PCs within seconds. The startup operates across several industry verticals and is used by the largest pan-African banks, insurers and mining houses for both customer and employee authentication.
The startup last year raised $15 million in growth capital to fuel its expansion across Africa, and it has now partnered with Zanaco to launch operations in Zambia.
Kenya
Kenya’s digital ID project, Maisha Namba, will receive advice from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The global charity group, started by the Microsoft founder, will help connect the Kenyan government to key technical experts and partners.
Maisha Namba is a unique personal identification number assigned to every Kenyan citizen. The number is assigned to the Maisha Card as a digital identity credential. The country has been preparing for the $6.8 million launch of the biometric digital ID system for the past several months. At the beginning of October, however, Kenyan authorities postponed its launch due to “unfavourable circumstances.”
Global
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to assist developing countries in implementing, strengthening and/or expanding their digital identity systems.
The partnership said it is committed to promoting open standards and interoperability, ensuring a fair environment and preventing dependence on a single vendor or technology – an approach that aligns with best practices in public procurement. By joining forces, the organisations aim to “foster innovation, seamlessly integrate digital tools, and guarantee online system access for everyone, ensuring no one is left behind without proof of identity.”
Global
By the year 2029, there will be 1.5 billion digital identity wallets held by people around the world, storing approximately 30 percent of all digital identities, according to the latest report from Goode Intelligence.
“By the end of this decade, it is safe to say that our proof of identity will be largely digitised with over 4.9 billion digital identities in use by 2029,” says Goode Intelligence founder and CEO Alan Goode.
United States
Colorado, Georgia, and Arizona have officially added support for digital IDs in Google Wallet. All three previously added support for Apple Wallet, but digital IDs will now work on Android devices, too. Maryland is the only other state to support both wallets; it added Apple Wallet support in 2022 and Google Wallet support in June 2023.
United Kingdom
Mastek has been awarded a three-year contract from the UK’s Government Digital Service (GDS). The three-year contract is valued at £8.5 million, with options available to extend to a total of five years.
Mastek will design, build, and operate the GOV.UK One Login Technical Service Desk (TSD). The TSD will serve as a single point of contact for resolving technical queries and issues. Mastek will design the TSD solution “with proactive monitoring and alerting systems that support operational best practices.”
