United Kingdom
Only 42 percent of the UK are comfortable with the idea of an internationally recognised digital ID wallet, according to a report from fintech firm Checkout.com. Trust in the Digital Economy 2025 has revealed that this is lower than in countries like Spain (43 percent), New Zealand (46 percent), China (52 percent), Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (both 71 percent).
Added to that, fewer than half of UK respondents (49 percent) believe digital IDs will become a foundation for future payment methods, with just 45 percent of Brits saying they would trust online transactions more with ID verification.
Trust in government is also particularly low among UK consumers, with just 44 percent comfortable with the idea of authorities storing extra biometric data, while nearly one in four (23 percent) fear that the widespread adoption of digital IDs could even make the internet a more dangerous place.
Europe
The European Union has reached a provisional agreement to implement harmonised digital driving licences across member states. The initiative, which aims to make digital licences the standard format by 2030, will integrate with the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet system while citizens will still have the right to obtain physical licences. The agreement follows the EU’s broader efforts to establish a comprehensive digital identity framework, with several member states already developing their own EUDI Wallet implementations.
The digital licence rollout is part of a comprehensive road safety reform package that addresses multiple aspects of driving regulation within the EU. The reforms include new provisions for minimum age requirements affecting professional drivers, accompanied driving programmes for young professionals, and expanded access to alternative fuel vehicles. The package also creates a framework for recognizing driving licences from non-EU countries.
United Kingdom
Meanwhile, the UK is preparing to introduce digital driving licenses in this summer. The nationwide rollout will affect approximately 50 million British citizens and represents a major technological upgrade to the country’s transportation infrastructure.
The programme is part of the broader Gov.uk Wallet project, which seeks to create a comprehensive digital identity ecosystem for British citizens.
Global
Digital identity provider REACT has integrated Regula’s Document Reader SDK into its ID Wallet platform, reportedly streamlining identity verification processes and reducing onboarding times. The integration enables more than 90 percent of verification workflows to be completed automatically, cutting average onboarding time to under 30 seconds.
According to internal assessments, the integration has reduced the time spent on manual checks by approximately 30 percent while also improving accuracy by limiting opportunities for human error.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia has launched the Fayda digital ID system, a digital identity platform developed in collaboration with TECH5 and Visa. The platform is central to the country’s Digital Ethiopia 2025 strategy and aims to provide secure, inclusive digital identification to 90 million adults by 2027.
As of this month, more than 15 million Ethiopians have enrolled in the system. The platform incorporates biometric authentication based on TECH5’s multi-biometric solutions. It supports both smartphone-enabled users and individuals without digital access through a “custodian” wallet system. These wallets are managed by government-authorised agents, “helping ensure nationwide inclusion regardless of digital literacy or infrastructure limitations.”
The Cooperative Bank of Oromia is the first financial institution to integrate with the Fayda Wallet, enabling new account openings via biometric eKYC verification without requiring physical documents.
Armenia
Armenia will roll out a new biometric identification system in the second half of 2026, modernising its national passport and ID card infrastructure to meet international security and interoperability standards. The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and developed through a public-private partnership with French identity technology provider IDEMIA and Armenian firm A.C.I. Technology.
ID Techwire reports that Armenia previously issued biometric passports between 2011 and 2017, but suspended the programme when a contract with its former supplier expired. Since then, citizens have been issued non-biometric passports, which fall short of security standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union.
The new documents will include embedded chips storing encrypted biometric data, such as facial and fingerprint templates. They are designed to comply with ICAO specifications and EU data protection standards. These upgrades are also seen as a technical requirement in Armenia’s ongoing efforts to secure visa-free travel to the EU, although no such access is guaranteed until further reforms are completed.
Nigeria
The Federal Government will begin issuing digital identity cards to farmers in August, a move aimed at improving data collection, ensuring targeted subsidies, and modernising the nation’s agricultural sector.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), is part of broader efforts to digitise farmer records, enhance supply chain transparency, and curb the diversion of agricultural support programmes.
Uganda
Uganda has begun implementing a national ID registration and renewal programme for its citizens residing in Tanzania. The initiative, operated through the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), enables Ugandan diaspora members to maintain their access to government services and citizenship benefits. The expansion follows NIRA’s broader domestic enrollment drive that aims to register more than 17.2 million citizens ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections.
Rwanda
Rwanda has announced plans to invest Rwf12.2 billion in implementing a national digital ID system during the next fiscal year, building upon its World Bank-supported digital identity initiative announced in 2023.
The investment aims to upgrade the national digital ID infrastructure to provide all Rwandan citizens with unique digital identities, replacing the current physical ID cards within a three-year timeframe. The initiative is expected to enhance the delivery and accessibility of government services across multiple sectors including healthcare, education, and financial services.
Hong Kong
China’s blockchain-powered identity solution, RealDID, is now being extended to Hong Kong. Created by China’s Ministry of Public Security, RealDID leverages the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) to offer users a decentralised method for managing identity.
The service will see Chinese residents able to access Hong Kong’s digital services.
United Kingdom
Lord Ian Duncan of Springbank has joined the Zero Trust Special Interest Group as Patron.
Lord Duncan has served in each of the UK Government’s territorial departments—Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—and later as the UK’s Minister for Climate Change, overseeing international negotiations. Currently, he serves as Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.
