One of the highlights of the High Security Printing™ (HSP) conferences each year is the regional awards for the best ID documents and banknotes, which this year were presented at the HSP gala dinner in Sofia.

In my previous roles within security print-related companies, all the way to my current editorial duties, I’ve witnessed many shifting patterns in the landscape of identity and secure documents.

In an increasingly connected world, where patches and updates are delivered to your smartphone on a daily basis, Juliette Thomas and Jérôme Boudineau, from IDEMIA Smart Identity, ask why we need to wait for an electronic ID card to be reissued before we can get an updated operating system. Well now, we don’t!

Since commenting on the state of voter ID at the 2020 US presidential election (see IDN November 2020), ID & Secure Document News™ has followed up with several other stories (IDN January 2021, June 2021 and August 2022) that demonstrate the overlap between ID, technology and politics.

In the realm of document security, Latvia is making significant strides with its new ePassport.

Nestling in the heart of the Balkans, Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, was the picturesque setting for the latest edition of the High Security Printing™ (HSP) conference series (4-6 March). The sell-out event, which had to close its doors to new registrations three weeks in advance, proved to be a success for participants, exhibitors, presenters, and sponsors alike!

Reconnaissance International, publisher of ID & Secure Document News™ (IDN), has released the inaugural edition of the Directory of ID & Secure Document Suppliers.

In a significant move toward digital identity management, the Nepalese government has commenced assigning national ID numbers to children during birth registration, aimed at maintaining a comprehensive database of citizens from early childhood.

France has officially introduced its digital driving licence system following successful trials in Hauts-de-Seine, Eure-et-Loir, and Rhône, as announced by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

The UK government has recently spotlighted digital identity and artificial intelligence (AI) as key technologies for state- supported research. Its policy document promises to reshape how the UK interacts with technology and pave the way for economic growth and a more inclusive society.

In an industry dominated by large-scale operations catering to government and corporate contracts, one small-format security print business is making a big impact with its specialised services.

With the advent of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), detecting forged documents has taken a significant leap forward.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has solidified its commitment to supporting the production of secure identity documents in Greece through a €10.5 million 10-year loan to Veridos Matsoukis, a prominent printer specialising in secure ID documents.

This month, three new document issues go on record, with the launch of the Macau Electronic ID, the Latvia ePassport and the Greece ePassport.

Such has been the demand to attend the High Security Printing™ EMEA conference (HSP) in Sofia, Bulgaria, that registration for the event has now closed.

The surge in biometric technology, particularly facial recognition, within the aviation sector is poised to redefine the passenger experience at airports across the world. In this round up, we take a look at a range of automated border control initiatives from across the globe.

In a move aimed at bolstering its commitment to enhancing global safety and security, IDEMIA Group has announced a comprehensive reorganisation, which became effective on 2 January 2024.

South Africa’s new driving licence cards will not launch by the end of March 2024, as former Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula first announced.

The US government has recently awarded a substantial three-year contract, worth $386.3 million, to General Dynamics, a leading defence contractor, for the operation of its biometric ID management infrastructure.

Optic ID, an iris authentication system developed by Apple, is a key feature integrated into Apple’s new Vision Pro headset. This technology enables users to securely unlock their device, authorise transactions, access personal data, and sign-in to various applications using iris recognition.