United Kingdom
The UK government is pressing ahead with plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help determine the age of asylum seekers arriving at the border.
A £322,000 contract has been awarded to Harlow-based IT supplier Akhter Computers Ltd to further develop and test facial age-estimation technology, with deployment expected from 2027. The Home Office says the system will help identify adults falsely claiming to be children, after more than 6,400 age assessments were conducted in the year to March 2026, with 43 percent ultimately found to be adults.
The move has drawn criticism from rights groups. Human Rights Watch described the technology as unproven and warned it could undermine protections for vulnerable children, while the government’s own immigration inspector has previously cautioned that no age-assessment method can be entirely accurate.
Global
Identity verification specialist Regula has partnered with mobile security firm V-Key to integrate document authentication, facial biometrics and liveness detection directly into mobile identity platforms.
The partnership combines Regula’s document and biometric verification technology with V-Key’s mobile identity platform and secure mobile infrastructure. The companies are targeting banking, telecoms, government and digital service providers across the Asia-Pacific region, where demand for secure remote onboarding continues to grow.
Ukraine / Panama
Ukraine and Panama are expanding cooperation on digital government and identity services following talks between officials from Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Panama’s ambassador to Kyiv.
The discussions covered digital identity, e-government platforms, cybersecurity and financial technology, with Ukraine showcasing its Diia ecosystem and AI-powered public service initiatives. Panama is currently developing a national digital identity system and electronic driving licences, while both countries agreed to explore collaboration on digital maritime services and smart port infrastructure.
Austria
European digital identity provider Signicat has integrated Austria’s national digital identity system, ID Austria, into its eID and Wallet Hub platform.
The move gives businesses access to identity verification services covering more than 4.8 million Austrian users – around 60% of the country’s adult population. Signicat said the integration will help organisations comply with eIDAS, anti-money laundering requirements and future European Digital Identity Wallet standards while simplifying access to Austria’s rapidly growing digital identity ecosystem.
Spain
Spain’s hospitality sector is beginning to adapt to the country’s new MiDNI mobile identity app, which hotels and businesses have been legally required to accept as a valid form of identification since April.
The rollout positions Spain as one of the first major test cases for digital identity in everyday commercial transactions ahead of the wider European Digital Identity Wallet programme due by the end of 2026. While adoption remains uneven, the initiative is already reshaping guest registration and compliance processes across the hospitality industry.
Netherlands
The Dutch government has blocked a proposed acquisition of digital identity infrastructure provider Solvinity by US tech giant Kyndryl.
Solvinity operates systems supporting DigiD, the national platform used by Dutch citizens to access public services online. Ministers said the takeover posed a potential risk to the public interest, reflecting growing concerns across Europe about dependence on foreign technology providers and digital sovereignty. The decision comes ahead of a broader European Commission initiative aimed at reducing reliance on overseas technology in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
United States
Samsung and CLEAR have launched a new mobile digital identity service that allows US passport holders to create and store a TSA-approved digital ID in Samsung Wallet.
The service enables travellers to verify their identity at more than 250 airport security checkpoints using their smartphone rather than presenting a physical document. Samsung ID with CLEAR can also be used for age verification at selected venues, with broader rollout plans expected in the coming months.
Global
Identity infrastructure startup Didit has raised $7.5 million in seed funding to support international expansion and further development of its programmable identity platform.
The company, founded in 2023, provides identity verification and fraud prevention tools to businesses operating online. Didit says it now serves more than 1,500 customers across over 220 countries and territories and has already reached profitability.
Thailand
Thailand is preparing to launch a national immigration “super app” designed to simplify travel and residency processes for the country’s 30 million annual foreign visitors.
The Thailand Immigration Management System (THIM), developed by Digital Identity Co Ltd in partnership with Amazon Web Services and the Thai Immigration Bureau, will allow travellers to complete digital arrival formalities, manage immigration services and verify their identities electronically. Officials ultimately envision the platform supporting facial-recognition-based automated border processing and a broader range of digital services for expatriates and long-term visa holders.
Global
NTT DOCOMO GLOBAL is expanding its Universal Wallet Infrastructure platform to support trusted interactions involving autonomous AI agents.
Developed with Accenture and Amazon Web Services, the enhanced framework introduces an “agentic trust layer” that uses digital identity and verifiable credentials to provide accountability, governance and policy-based controls for AI-driven transactions. The company said the move reflects growing demand for mechanisms to verify and manage both human and non-human actors in digital ecosystems.
Australia
Australia has launched a consultation on a proposed Commonwealth policy for verifiable credentials, as the country continues to expand its national digital identity framework.
The consultation forms part of the government’s broader Digital ID and Verifiable Credentials Strategy and follows a A$654.3 million investment in digital identity infrastructure. Officials are seeking views on issues including privacy, interoperability, digital wallets, trust services and inclusion, with submissions open until July 3. The outcome will help shape future policy governing how government-issued digital credentials are created, stored and shared.
