New Zealand
New Zealanders are set to benefit from secure digital identity services following the completion of the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework, announced by the Minister for Digitising Government, Hon Judith Collins KC.
The framework is designed to enhance the safety and security of online and in-person transactions, allowing New Zealanders to engage in digital interactions without compromising their privacy. The initiative aims to support everyday tasks like accessing government services, verifying identities for banking, or obtaining trade certifications.
The Trust Framework rules took effect on November 8 2024. It does not create a central database, track users, or allow data sharing between organisations. Information in accredited digital wallets is encrypted, and user consent is required before sharing data. Digital credentials remain under the user’s control, with the issuer having no oversight of when or how they are used.
United States
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for biometric monitoring devices as part of its Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), This, it said, is an Alternative to Detention (ATD) initiative that applies to noncitizens released from Department of Homeland Security “custody pursuant to an Order of Release on Recognizance, an Order of Supervision, a grant of parole, or a bond.”
ICE said this supports noncitizen compliance with conditions of release, helps ensure attendance at immigration court hearings, and assists noncitizens with obtaining community services as necessary to allow them to successfully participate in their legal proceedings.
ICE said that “over the past 12 months, ISAP has enrolled over 149,000 participants, with an average of 12,400 noncitizen enrollments monthly. The current ATD programme has over 100 sites with over 1,000 contractor employees.”
ICE said it requires an industry partner that can provide monitoring “devices that can track participant activities and movements via geolocation, offer identity verification, and offer one- or two-way communications capabilities to assist ICE with ensuring compliance with release requirements and court orders.”
Australia
The Commonwealth Bank is set to help the government trial a new way of checking a customer’s identity to help avoid damaging data breaches.
The rollout of verifiable credentials stored on digital wallets could end the need for companies to store massive amounts of personal data, Government Services Minister Bill Shorten told the Tech Council’s national summit.
Shorten’s agency, Services Australia, is conducting proof-of-concept testing for verifiable credentials.
United Kingdom
The UK government has unveiled plans to launch a new Digital Veteran Card system that will leverage secure digital identity verification technology to authenticate former military personnel. The initiative, which incorporates mobile credential technology similar to digital ID systems used in other government programs, is set to roll out next year and builds upon the existing physical HM Armed Forces Veteran Card program introduced in 2019.
The new system will enable veterans to download their digital credentials immediately after applying, while they await their physical card in the mail. This digital verification will facilitate quicker access to various support services, including housing assistance through Op FORTITUDE, NHS healthcare services, and employment support through job centres.
The digital cards will reportedly benefit veterans seeking employment through the ‘Going forward into employment’ scheme, which helps former service personnel transition into roles within the Civil Service, NHS, or justice sector. The initiative aligns with the broader trend of digital transformation in government, which includes the recent adoption of Login.gov and ID.me for veteran services in other jurisdictions.
Spain / Switzerland
SafetyTech company Privately SA and Privado ID are collaborating to develop a new device-based age verification solution. It will address the demand for privacy-preserving age-gating, allowing users to verify their age on their own device without sharing personal information.
Sectors from adult content to social media and streaming are all searching for privacy-first age verification solutions to meet compliance standards. Adult sites like Pornhub have had to restrict access in certain US states due to age verification laws that compromise user privacy, while social media platforms like Meta and TikTok face similar scrutiny over age restrictions, with Meta challenged by Australia’s recent social media ban on minors.
Meanwhile, streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu are beginning to implement age verification for mature content. Privately and Privado says the ID’s device-based solution will allow these sectors to verify user age without collecting or exposing sensitive personal data, addressing compliance while safeguarding user privacy.
Through the collaboration, Privado ID will integrate Privately’s Multimodal Age Estimation and reverification technologies within their marketplace ecosystem of credential providers, creating a unique addition to Self-Sovereign Identity. This will enable users to verify their age once and reuse this verification across multiple platforms without repeating.
United Kingdom
London Stock Exchange Group (LON:LSEG) and Australia-based verification solutions provider IDVerse have announced a new identity infrastructure partnership to scale global coverage and fight digital deception in customer onboarding.
The partnership will allow businesses to tackle rising threats such as synthetic media, while addressing new geographical opportunities as identity verification use cases continue to multiply.
Through Document and Biometric Verification, LSEG will empower customers with IDVerse’s identity verification tools and infrastructure, such as Zero Bias AI tested technology that uses regenerative AI to mitigate discrimination based on race, age, and gender. IDVerse’s advanced technology not only fights fraud and deepfakes but also significantly reduces associated risks.
Malta
The Malta Business Registry (MBR) has launched a tender for the development of a Central Data Repository (CDR), marking a significant step in the country’s digital infrastructure advancement. The planned platform will serve as a secure digital environment for consolidating documents and identity credentials, offering access through mobile devices and PCs as part of the broader Malta Vision 2050 strategic initiative.
The proposed CDR system will implement a digital e-wallet functionality, enabling individuals and businesses to store and share essential documents securely. The platform will incorporate artificial intelligence technology to enhance document-sharing processes with government entities, with the aim of reducing administrative overhead and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
