Editorial

Digital Identity: Global Roundup

Digital identity news from around the world.

Posted 13 January 2025 by Christine Horton


Nigeria

The National Identity Management Commission of Nigeria (NIMC) says it is looking at ways of streamlining and expanding the rollout of digital ID in Nigeria and one of the options on the table is adding iris biometrics to its digital ID enrolment.

Currently biometric enrolment for the National Identification Number (NIN) in Nigeria involves face and fingerprints. Adding the iris modality, according to a representative of Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, will make it possible for citizens with disabilities to access a wide range of services in the country.

“We are exploring the use of iris recognition technology to cater to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities,” the representative was quoted as saying, as per Biometric Update.

Serbia

Serbia will by the end of 2025 introduce digital identity wallets to allow its citizens to store their identity documents electronically, the head of the office for IT and eGovernment, Mihailo Jovanovic, has said.

The wallets will initially allow for the storage of driver’s licences and health insurance cards, while the storage of personal IDs and passports would be enabled at a later stage, Jovanovic said, according to reports.

The new service, though safer, will be optional, Jovanovic said. He also said the introduction of digital wallets will depend on how quickly the European Union (EU) will standardise its protocols on the application.

The EU’s European Digital Identity Framework came into effect in May 2024, with all member states set to provide at least one version of the EU Digital Identity Wallet, adhering to common specifications, by 2026.

United Kingdom

Vouchsafe has announced a new partnership with Carefree, a digital charity that turns empty hotel rooms into vital breaks for unpaid carers.

In the UK, 11 million people lack a passport or driving licence. Unpaid carers are disproportionately affected, often facing financial challenges and limited access to driving and other forms of travel. Verifying their status as carers only adds to the complexity.

By integrating Vouchsafe’s identity verification, Carefree now offers carers a way to verify their identity, even without a photo ID. Its features enable a trusted referee to vouch for a user’s identity, and also their status as a carer. This approach simplifies registration, improves access, and prevents misuse of Carefree’s service, said the firm.

Through this partnership, Carefree is set to increase successful user registrations, helping more carers benefit from short breaks, while maintaining the trust of its accommodation partners who donate their excess capacity to the charity.

Europe

European identity verification platform provider, IDnow, has recently been announced as a partner to the EU-funded, ACHILLES project. Th initiative is dedicated to creating AI systems that are not only more effective and efficient, but also ethically responsible, transparent and fully compliant with regulatory standards.

With more than €8 million in funding under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, ACHILLES aims to address AI’s ‘Achilles’ heel’ – efficiency and trust.

ACHILLES will validate its approaches through real-world applications in different sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals and identity verification. These case studies will illustrate the practical impact of ACHILLES for adoption across industries.

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