Editorial

Digital Identity: Global Roundup

Digital identity news from around the world.

Posted 20 January 2025 by Christine Horton


United States

President Joe Biden has issued an executive order to bolster cybersecurity by implementing several key measures. These include the creation of a digital identity framework to provide identity verification to US citizens.

Within 30 days of signing the order, authorities including the Office of Management and Budget, NIST and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) should advise how contracts should phrase the requirements for providers to submit secure software certifications to CISA.

The executive order also calls for more coordination of responses to cyberattacks from multiple agencies through accessing endpoint data from remote sources.

United Kingdom

The UK is to introduce digital driving licences this year, said the government.

The digital version of driving licences will be available in a virtual wallet in a government app, instead of being added to existing Google or Apple wallets. It could be accepted as a form of ID when voting, purchasing alcohol or boarding domestic flights.

While physical licences will still be issued and the new digital identities will not be mandatory, the government has said the move is part of their commitment to use technology to “make people’s lives easier and transform public services”.

A government spokesperson said: “Technology now makes it possible for digital identities to be more secure than physical ones, but we remain clear that they will not be made mandatory.”

The virtual wallet is understood to have security measures similar to many banking apps, and only owners of respective licences will be able to access it through inbuilt security features in smartphones, such as biometrics and multi-factor authentication.

The voluntary digital option is to be introduced later this year, according to the Times. Possible features include allowing users to hide their addresses in certain situations, such as in bars or shops, and using virtual licences for age verification at supermarket self-checkouts.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is expanding its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system as part of broader efforts to enhance border security and streamline visitor entry processes.

The ETA system requires travellers from visa-free countries to obtain digital pre-clearance before entering the UK. The early screening process enables authorities to identify potential security concerns while facilitating smoother entry for legitimate visitors. The system follows international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Digital Travel Credentials (DTCs) and represents a global trend toward digital border management solutions.

Anguilla

The Government of Anguilla (GOA) has officially migrated the .ai domain name over to Identity Digital since the two bodies partnered last year October.

The .ai domain reportedly now has 24/7 global support from Identity Digital, and a growing list of features that benefit registrars, businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide.

South Korea

South Korea’s Ministry of Interior and Safety has announced that foreigners residing in the region can apply for digital residence cards.

As of the announcement, foreigners, aged 14 and above, were eligible to leverage their smartphone to have their mobile identification cards issued. Having the same legal validity as a physical card, the digital ID can be utilised in public institutions, hospitals, and convenience stores. Additionally, the South Korean government plans to partner with major banks and related agencies to enable mobile residence cards to be leveraged for identity verification purposes in digital financial services.

Global

Prove has acquired Portabl, a digital identity company specialising in reusable ID verification and networks.

Portabl brings backing from notable investors including Harlem Capital, 6th Man Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Dorm Room Fund.

Portabl’s technology enables users to store verifications securely in a device-independent wallet, allowing them to share specific attributes and credentials as needed. This approach aligns with emerging digital identity wallet initiatives, such as the European Union’s cross-border digital identity wallet standards, and eliminates redundant verification processes while maintaining streamlined customer onboarding.

Qatar

A unified digital ID system will be established in Qatar as an integral part of a National Digital Authentication and Trust Services Strategy for 2024-2026.

The initiative, which is spearheaded by the Qatari Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), is a major component of the country’s digital transformation journey, Gulf Times reports.

According to the strategy, the unified digital ID will enable users get access to a wide range of digital services without the need to have multiple digital identities. This, authorities say, will improve information security and do away with the inconvenience of using different login details to access different government platforms.

United Kingdom

Credas Technologies has expanded its customer base by 40% in the past year, and run compliance checks on more than four million individuals in 2024, it has said.

In the UK’s residential housing industry, more than half (52 percent) of transactions now use Credas to undertake due diligence checks, either directly or via Credas’ partner network. This has led to Credas’ exceeding financial forecasts by 60 percent in 2024.

2025 will see Credas expand its offering into South Africa, Australia and Ireland, with plans for further territories in the future.

Global

Most people will soon have digital wallets, according to Juniper Research.

In its report, the Global Digital Wallets Market: 2024–2029, the company said that more than two-thirds of the global population will own a digital wallet by 2029, which translates to 5.6 billion people. It forecasts a 15.3 percent growth in digital wallet adoption globally by 2029, up from 52.6 percent in 2024.

United Kingdom

All websites on which pornographic material can be found, including social media platforms, must introduce “robust” age-checking techniques such as demanding photo ID or running credit card checks for UK users by July.

The long-awaited guidance, issued by regulator Ofcom, has been made under the Online Safety Act (OSA), and is intended to prevent children from easily accessing pornography online.

Research indicates the average age at which young people first see explicit material online in the UK is 13 – with many being exposed to it much earlier.

Ofcom confirmed to the BBC user-to-user services such as social media platforms must implement “highly effective checks” – which in some cases might mean “preventing children from accessing the entire site”.

United Kingdom

HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) work to migrate services and users from Government Gateway to One Login is set to expand in the coming weeks to include a small number of public users, as per Public Technology.

HMRC last year began the initial stages of adopting the new Whitehall-wide sign-in technology.

AI and digital government minister Feryal Clark revealed that the department – working closely with the Government Digital Service (GDS) – is currently working through private beta phases to support integration between One Login and HMRC’s services. Private beta is described by government guidance as an exercise that “involves inviting a limited number of people to use your service so you can get feedback and improve it”.

For HMRC, the next part of the beta process – marking a move from internal to external users – will get underway in the spring. Then, during the rest of 2025, those newly registering for the department’s services will do so via One Login. After which existing registrants will be moved from Government Gateway to the new system in tranches, according to Clark.

Event Logo

If you are interested in this article, why not register to attend our Think Digital Identity and Cybersecurity for Government conference, where digital leaders tackle the most pressing issues facing government today.


Register Now