Australia
Telstra has partnered with Australian Payments Plus (AP+) to offer digital identity verification for customers activating selected mobile services, eliminating the need to share personal documents.
ConnectID links Telstra with trusted identity sources such as major banks to verify customer information securely.
The service connects with Australia’s four major banks – Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ (through ANZ Plus), and Westpac – enabling millions of their customers to verify their identity online.
Global
Google has implemented enhanced security measures for its two-factor authentication (2FA) process on mobile devices, introducing a new requirement for biometric or PIN verification during sign-ins. The update, which arrives with Google Play services version 25.02.34 on Android devices, adds an additional verification step to the existing Google Prompt system, building upon the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen biometric authentication on Android.
Under the new protocol, when users attempt to sign into their Google account from an unfamiliar device, they must complete a two-step verification process. After receiving the standard prompt asking if they are attempting to sign in, users must now provide fingerprint, face unlock, or PIN verification after tapping “Yes, it’s me.” The original sign-in details remain visible in the background during this process. The enhancement comes as part of Google’s broader security strategy, which has recently included the promotion of passkeys as the default login option for personal accounts, reports Mobile ID World.
United Kingdom
Following the unveiling of the upcoming GOV.UK Wallet, ministers have confirmed that the government is open to the possibility of working with tech firms to enable official documents to be stored in commercial wallet systems.
It was understood that government would be amenable to considering making digital documents accessible not only via the GOV.UK Wallet – but also for users of similar private-sector platforms from the likes of Apple and Google.
Feryal Clark, minister for artificial intelligence and digital government, has now confirmed this possibility. The minister suggested that, in order to offer their users access to official documents, tech firms would need to adhere to the measures standards set out in existing government-backed certifications for digital-identity providers, as per Public Technology.
“We recognise there may be value in government documents, such as the digital driving licence, being available through private sector wallets that have been certified as part of the government’s Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework,” Clark said, in response to a written parliamentary question from Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. “There are no current plans but we are open to exploring this in the future. Currently, Apple, Google and Samsung Wallets are not certified, but may choose to become so in the future.”
United Kingdom
Tony Blair has said that technology, especially AI, will help eradicate populist politics by Keir Starmer’s government and other parties, which detract from solution based approaches.
He said the implementation of a national digital identity initiative and facial recognition cameras – so far trialled in London and Wales – would have many benefits to society, not least to tackle the biggest national “grievances” and root causes of populism in politics, which pressure points such as immigration, crime and benefit fraud.
By harnessing the full potential of artificial intelligence or digital IDs, individuals can be empowered and streamlined interactions across government can also deliver party mandates, reports Identity Week.
Europe
Ursula von der Leyen has announced the European Business Wallet as a flagship initiative in the European Commission EU Competitiveness Compass 2025. Also called the Competitiveness Compass, the Business Wallet will drive business “digitally” and “simply” around EU member states and build the interoperability between digital economies. The mandate outlines a strategic and clear framework on what is eventually expected of each countries’ infrastructure for the legal persons wallet.
Organisations, such as banks, also need a digital identity to verify other organisations in B2B as well as B2C.
United States
authID has been chosen by Salus, an inclusive microlending platform servicing underprivileged communities, to support the onboarding and authentication of applicants while protecting user privacy and maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.
Salus will leverage authID’s authentication services, which also feature one-in-one-billion false-match accuracy, on its digital platform as it processes the applications for lower-income, thin-file, and typically younger constituents seeking microloans and services from credit union partners. These borrowers tend to have subprime credit scores and/or be underbanked, making it more difficult to build and achieve financial wellness.
authID’s platform will also benefit the credit unions, with peace of mind regarding data privacy and compliance protocols, as well as confidence in the identities of the customers they lend to and build financial relationships with.
Global
AuthenticID’s latest State of Identity Fraud Report highlights an unprecedented rise in digital identity fraud, with AI-powered attacks driving a three-year high fraud rate of 2.10 percent last year. The report, which analysed more than 500 million global transactions, reveals synthetic identities and AI-generated deepfakes accounted for 42 percent of detected fraud attempts.
Key findings show a 76 percent year-over-year increase in phishing attacks targeting financial institutions and healthcare providers. The detection of fake IDs jumped 42 percent, with fraudsters increasingly utilising generative AI to create counterfeit documents that prove challenging to distinguish from legitimate ones.
Sector-specific analysis revealed that financial services faced doubled account takeover attempts, with 20 percent of new account applications flagged as fraudulent. Healthcare providers encountered synthetic identities or stolen credentials in 33 percent of patient onboarding processes, while 68 percent of companies dealt with employee impersonation or falsified employment records in workforce verification.
Europe
Signaturit Group, provider of secure digital transaction solutions, is to acquire Validated ID, a specialist in digital identity and electronic signature solutions.
Specialising in e-wallet and qualified signatures, Validated ID’s flagship product, VIDwallet, is the first EBSI (European Blockchain)-compliant mobile identity wallet, enabling secure credential management. VIDcredentials offers a platform for credential lifecycle management, while its VIDsigner product provides solutions for both in-person and remote signing.
