A Korean technology startup has developed what is believed to be the world’s first smartphone-based solution capable of simultaneously capturing facial and fingerprint biometrics using the built-in front and rear cameras of a mobile device. The innovation, created by WINNING.I, enables fully contactless multimodal biometric authentication through a single application, removing the need for additional hardware or multi-step user procedures.

In an article recently published in Securing Industry, Dr Mark Deakes, chair of the new International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA), sets out how optical technologies are spearheading efforts to protect identity documents.

Holographic features have long played a vital role in optical document security—grabbing attention, signaling authenticity, and giving visual verification. But as design trends shift and digital solutions take a larger role, it’s time to reassess their impact.

After nearly two decades of delays, the US is set to enforce the REAL ID Act on 7 May 2025. This legislation, passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 Commission's recommendations, aims to standardise the issuance of state identification documents to enhance national security. However, its implementation has been fraught with challenges, including logistical hurdles, political resistance, and privacy concerns.

On 15 April, Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) officially introduced the DNI 3.0 electronic national identity card.

Biometric authentication traditionally relies on single identifiers like fingerprints or facial scans. However, these can be spoofed or altered by ageing, injury, or illness.

The spotlight is on innovation for optical security features in ID and secure document protection, as entries open for the inaugural ‘Excellence in Optical Technologies Awards’.

The programme has been published for the High Security Printing™ (HSP) Latin America conference, which returns 9-11 June to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – the location for the inaugural event back in 2012.

During the lockdowns that typified the COVID pandemic, there was a roughly two-year period during which it was only under very special circumstances that a person could leave their house to visit a government office, a bank or cross a border. This accelerated the requirement for validating someone’s identity remotely. Of course, this ‘person-not-present’ form of ID authentication was prevalent and growing before 2020, but the pandemic accelerated its acceptance.

A significant shift is underway for Europe’s motorists, as the European Union advances plans to introduce digital driving licences. These mobile licences, accessible via smartphones, will complement traditional physical licences, offering a more flexible and interoperable identity solution across Europe.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) provides globally recognised specifications for machine-readable travel documents (MRTDs), including national identity cards. As digital identity becomes central to secure border control and civil verification systems, the layout and design of ID cards – particularly their orientation – have gained attention.

Estonia has ceased to recognise Russian non- biometric foreign passports, a move that directly impacts the eligibility of Russian citizens seeking entry or visas. As announced by Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 31 March 2025, holders of non- biometric Russian passports are no longer permitted to enter Estonia nor apply for an Estonian Schengen visa.

In today’s digital world, where secure authentication is a growing priority, the digitisation of documents appears to be an attractive solution to meet administrative and personal identification needs. However, this transition significantly impacts the handling of birth certificates and early- age identity management, exposing them to evolving risks, especially as scammers continue to develop more sophisticated tactics.

A recent online article from Maryia Valchanina, Head of Data Processing at Regula, sheds light on one of the lesser-discussed challenges in the field of document authentication—the verification of professional identity documents. Unlike conventional passports or national ID cards, which benefit from widespread standardisation and well-established verification protocols, these specialised documents often exist in a fragmented regulatory landscape.

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on 12 new Implementing Acts that will define the technical and legal framework for the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, as established under Regulation (EU) 2024/1183. Running from 15 April to 13 May 2025, the consultation focuses on trust services, interoperability, and security standards essential for the deployment of the EUDI Wallet across Member States.

Veridos GmbH, a joint venture of the Security Tech Group Giesecke+Devrient and the Bundesdruckerei Group, has announced a change in the management board.

From 11 April 2025, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin enforcing a regulation that requires all non-US citizens aged 18 and over to carry physical documentation confirming that they have registered their identity with DHS. This policy, detailed in the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register, is a renewed application of provisions within the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and is aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement through biometric and document-based identity verification.

The European Union (EU) is making significant progress in its digital identity initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to standardising digital identification systems across member states. These efforts aim to enhance security within the region, with various countries implementing advanced digital ID solutions.

The technical committee of the Optical & Digital Document Security™ (ODDS) conference, which takes place in Warsaw, Poland from 15-17 September 2025, has now completed its judging of the abstracts submitted for the conference.

The ongoing digitisation of personal identification demands reliable solutions for secure identification. Mobile IDs have proven to provide a simple verification method via mobile devices. Despite its growing popularity, many use cases for this technology remain largely unexplored. In this article, Veridos’ CEO, Marc-Julian Siewert reveals the full potential of mobile IDs.