Global
AU10TIX has been selected by Microsoft Security as a premier identity verification issuer on the Microsoft Entra platform, extending its “verify once, use everywhere” strategy into Microsoft’s decentralised identity ecosystem. Through the integration, AU10TIX’s IDV and biometric technology will support Microsoft Entra Verified ID, enabling organisations to issue and accept secure digital credentials across multiple industries and services.
The solution is available through the Microsoft Security Store and uses cryptographic techniques designed to embed privacy, authenticity, and data integrity by default. AU10TIX says the approach reduces repeat verification while giving users greater control over their personal data with minimal security risk.
Bali
Indonesia has launched a new .bali domain, positioning it as a digital identity marker for the island and a tool to promote and protect Balinese culture online. Provincial leaders have framed the domain as part of Bali’s broader ambition to strengthen its global tourism brand while asserting a distinct digital presence.
John Simanjuntak, chairman of Pengelola Nama Domain Internet Indonesia (PANDI), described the domain as both a technical resource and a cultural symbol, saying it supports a more sovereign, secure, and locally aligned digital ecosystem while attracting international engagement.
Cambodia / India
An eight-member delegation from Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior has completed a week-long study tour of India focused on digital identity and civil registration reform. Led by Heng Chamroeun, Deputy Director General of Identification, the visit was facilitated by UNDP India and UNDP Cambodia and centred on India’s Aadhaar system and related digital public infrastructure.
The delegation met with government agencies in New Delhi and Karnataka, visited IIIT-Bangalore, and engaged with the MOSIP team to explore global best practices in identity system design. Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior has tasked the group with developing a national civil registration and digital public system, with lessons from India expected to inform population management and public service delivery.
United Kingdom
UK-based secure communications provider YEO Messaging has launched a new facial recognition and liveness detection system designed to verify both identity and age without requiring intrusive ID uploads. The company says the technology can prove a user is a real, live person while supporting privacy-preserving age assurance.
The launch comes as governments increase pressure on platforms to prevent underage access, including the introduction of social media age restrictions in Australia. YEO positions the system as a “reasonable steps” solution for compliance with emerging online safety requirements.
United Kingdom
The UK government’s digital identity programme remains politically contested, with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) rejecting the Office for Budget Responsibility’s £1.8 billion cost estimate. Appearing before a House of Commons committee on December 3, permanent secretary Emran Mian said final costs would depend on the outcome of a public consultation delayed until the new year.
Ministers are expected to conduct a nationwide engagement tour as part of the consultation, with the government seeking to reset public messaging around digital identity. The issue remains contentious, with Parliament recently debating a petition signed by 2.9 million people opposing a national digital ID rollout, and civil society groups urging MPs to reject the proposal.
United Kingdom / Europe
Identity verification provider Veriff has published its 2026 Identity Fraud Report, finding that 4.18 percent of all digital identity checks processed in 2025 were flagged as fraudulent. The figure equates to roughly one in every 25 verification attempts across its global dataset.
In the EU and UK, fraud rates rose more sharply, with the annual mean net fraud rate increasing from 4.29 percent in 2024 to 9.77 percent in 2025. Veriff attributes the rise to increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques and broader adoption of digital onboarding.
China / Singapore
Shanghai has launched a fully online business registration service for Singaporean companies, relying on cross-border digital identity interoperability rather than notarised paper documents. Announced at the Global Data Ecosystem Conference 2025, the service links Singaporean corporate digital identities with Shanghai’s company registration systems.
The initiative is built on a digital trust platform operated with the Shanghai Electronic Certification Authority and developed in partnership with Singapore’s IMDA and the Singapore Academy of Law. Officials say it resolves longstanding challenges around recognising foreign authorisations and apostilles.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s central bank has integrated the national digital ID system, Fayda, into the country’s banking infrastructure, making it a prerequisite for account access. The National Bank of Ethiopia has launched a harmonisation programme requiring all existing bank accounts to be linked to Fayda, with a final deadline of April 8, 2026.
New accounts will be opened through VeriFayda 2, the platform’s eKYC and authentication service. With Fayda already connected to more than 90 public and private agencies, the move effectively positions the ID system as the root identity for financial access and transaction monitoring nationwide.
EU / Canada
The European Union and Canada have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on digital credentials and trust services, advancing work on interoperable digital identity wallets. The agreement was announced at the first meeting of the Canada-EU Digital Partnership Council in Montreal on December 8.
The MoU commits both sides to joint technical work, standards alignment, and cross-border pilot projects focused on wallet interoperability and trusted digital services. Officials described the initiative as moving digital identity cooperation from policy statements into operational testing.
Global
Biometric verification provider iProov has announced a strategic partnership with identity assurance company HYPR, integrating iProov’s liveness detection into HYPR’s Affirm platform via OIDC. The companies say the solution targets fraud risks across the identity lifecycle, including synthetic identities and deepfake-driven impersonation.
The integration is positioned as a zero-trust access control layer, verifying users at the point of system entry before credentials are accepted.
Global
1Kosmos has partnered with Reality Defender to integrate real-time deepfake detection into its identity proofing and passwordless authentication platform. The companies say the combined solution addresses both traditional presentation attacks and AI-generated visual impersonation.
The launch follows growing concern about deepfake-driven fraud. TransUnion data shows a nearly 700 percent year-over-year increase in suspected deepfake fraud, with one in five biometric fraud attempts now involving synthetic media.
United States
The US Department of Education says enhanced identity verification controls have prevented more than $1 billion in attempted federal student aid fraud since January 2025. The measures include mandatory identity checks for certain first-time FAFSA applicants, aimed at countering organised fraud rings and AI-driven impersonation.
Earlier guidance clarified that flagged applicants must complete live identity verification using an unexpired government-issued photo ID, either in person or via video conference, before aid can be disbursed. The Department says the approach protects taxpayer funds while reducing operational burden on institutions.
