Identity Week America 2023 is set to return on October 3-4, promising an unparalleled opportunity to explore the cutting-edge advancements in identity management.
Hosted at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC, this dynamic platform will bring together 3,000+ global leaders, innovators, and professionals from various industries to discuss, collaborate, and shape the future of identity.
Key highlights of Identity Week America 2023:
250+ Industry-Leading Speakers: Identity Week America has assembled an impressive roster of industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators who will share their knowledge and insights through keynote presentations and panel discussions.
They include: United Nations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, The White House, U.S. Payments Forum, OBIM, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, World Economic Forum, Air Canada, IATA, Netflix, Uber, R.B.C. Royal Bank, NIST, CBS Health, Delta, NEC, BNY Mellon, Unicef, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and many more!
In-Depth Discussions: Identity Week America 2023 will delve into critical issues such as identity technology, security, and compliance. Thought-provoking discussions will help attendees navigate the evolving landscape of identity management and provide practical insights and solutions they can implement in their organisations.
Exhibition: The event’s expansive exhibition hall with 250 exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge solutions, products, and services from leading companies in the identity industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations in biometrics, cybersecurity, authentication, AI and more.
Roundtables: Identity Week America will feature interactive roundtables and hands-on sessions, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of identity-related agendas and current uses of technologies.
Startup City: Discover 100+ promising startups and innovative solutions in the identity space through our Startup City, offering a glimpse into the future of identity technology.
Identity Week America 2023 is a must-attend event for professionals seeking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving field of identity management. Whether you are involved in government, finance, healthcare, travel, technology, or any sector requiring secure and efficient identity solutions, this platform is designed to provide you with the knowledge and connections you need to succeed.
Registration is now open! Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Identity Week America 2023. For more information and to book your free ticket, please visit our website.
From May 7, 2025, state-issued ID and licence rules will be set to change for travel within the U.S. Travellers will be urged to check if their ID is valid and compliant with REAL ID regulations at their local state department of motor vehicles.
The countdown to REAL ID enforcement, as of today, stands at 592 days. Overseen by the Department of Homeland Security, REAlL ID readiness is about establishing minimal security standards for licence issuance and production and stopping federal agencies from accepting licences and identification cards that do not meet the Act’s standards.
Since 2013, the DHS has been working on a phased enforcement plan for REAL ID to align with the circulation of secure-only driver’s licences and identification documents, which it calls a “vital component of our national security framework”.
In accordance with the enforcement schedule, a key deadline is now being determined for 2025 where travellers who hold a state-issued ID or licence must adopt REAL ID measures.
On the DHS website, it says the REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, actioned recommendations following the events of 9/11 to set standards for the issuance of recognised ID, such as driving licences.
For domestic flights within the United States, driving licences are accepted over having to present a passport, but these familiar rules to Americans will change once REAL ID requirements are enforced in 2025. This news may leave some U.S. citizens flailing. What is the process for obtaining REAL ID?
The REAL ID is still an accepted standard for domestic travel and adopted by federal agencies, which is identified by the gold star emblem in the top right-hand corner of any driving licence or identification card.
Younger generations are less likely to be aware of what REAL ID is, but surveys suggested 78% have heard of the requirements for traditional IDs.
The deadline is pushing residents to visit their local DMV, with same-day REAL ID appointments made available by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
Patch.com reported that 34,500 appointments will be open to local residents in New Jersey, as well as 24 MVC service centers offering the same across other states.
Pre- verification has also been introduced to speed up face-to-face appointments by verifying the resident’s identity and personal information before they visit a REAL ID centre. 13 REAL centres are open in Pennsylvania.
After the deadline has passed, the DHS, TSA and federal agencies will not accept forms of traditional identification that do not comply with REAL ID. Traditional ID includes, a passport, birth certificate or social security card, for example, that can be accepted by REAL ID standards because they have advanced integrated security technologies and features.
The changes will only apply to adults flying domestically, and the necessity to travel with a passport on international flights remains unchanged.
Identity Week America 2023 is set to return on October 3-4, promising an unparalleled opportunity to explore the cutting-edge advancements in identity management.
Hosted at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC, this dynamic platform will bring together 3,000+ global leaders, innovators, and professionals from various industries to discuss, collaborate, and shape the future of identity.
Key highlights of Identity Week America 2023:
250+ Industry-Leading Speakers: Identity Week America has assembled an impressive roster of industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators who will share their knowledge and insights through keynote presentations and panel discussions.
They include: United Nations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, The White House, U.S. Payments Forum, OBIM, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, World Economic Forum, Air Canada, IATA, Netflix, Uber, R.B.C. Royal Bank, NIST, CBS Health, Delta, NEC, BNY Mellon, Unicef, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and many more!
In-Depth Discussions: Identity Week America 2023 will delve into critical issues such as identity technology, security, and compliance. Thought-provoking discussions will help attendees navigate the evolving landscape of identity management and provide practical insights and solutions they can implement in their organisations.
Exhibition: The event’s expansive exhibition hall with 250 exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge solutions, products, and services from leading companies in the identity industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations in biometrics, cybersecurity, authentication, AI and more.
Roundtables: Identity Week America will feature interactive roundtables and hands-on sessions, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of identity-related agendas and current uses of technologies.
Startup City: Discover 100+ promising startups and innovative solutions in the identity space through our Startup City, offering a glimpse into the future of identity technology.
Identity Week America 2023 is a must-attend event for professionals seeking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving field of identity management. Whether you are involved in government, finance, healthcare, travel, technology, or any sector requiring secure and efficient identity solutions, this platform is designed to provide you with the knowledge and connections you need to succeed.
Registration is now open! Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Identity Week America 2023. For more information and to book your free ticket, please visit our website.
Security documents, PKI, and biometric inclusion continue to be areas of growth and security for Asia, Australia, and surrounding regions.
Speakers from the IOM, UIDAI, GDRFA, Australian Payments Plus, UNICEF, The Alan Turing Institute, and the New Zealand Government lead the discussion across both conference days to examine enhanced security in the face of advanced fraud, inclusive registration, and the robust use of biometrics in national identity.
🎤 Sumnesh Joshi, Director General, UIDAI 🎤 Mohamed Elganiny, Document examination expert, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA) 🎤 Joanne Knight, Identification Consultant; Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand Government 🎤 Andrew Black, Managing Director, Australian Payments Plus 🎤 Kapil Jambhulkar, Director, UIDAI (Govt of India) 🎤 Riccardo Vecellio Segate, Biometrics Researcher, The Alan Turing Institute 🎤 Bhaskar Mishra, CRVS and Legal Identity Specialist, Child Protection, UNICEF 🎤 Laura Scorretti, Programme Manager, IOM
Identity Week Asia provides a unique space to engage in lively discussions, panel sessions, and networking opportunities.
Discover the future of digital identity in the Philippines as PSA Director, Rene Mendoza takes the stage at Identity Week Asia 2023.
Join us for an enlightening keynote session that unveils the transformative power of the country’s eID system and its impact on the global identity landscape.
Rene, from the Philippines Statistics Agency will share PSA’s success with citizen onboarding, the rollout of their ID card, and the inclusion of biometrics in physical identity cards. This session will be free to attend, so register for your free expo pass and join us at our keynote stage on the mornings of both days!
As part of our commitment to delivering an enriching and first class event, we have secured the participation of hundreds of industry expert speakers who are at the forefront of shaping the future of identity management and authentication.
The speakers will bring diverse perspectives and insights from a wide range of industries and are sure to elevate the discussions at Identity Week America to new heights
Check out some of our latest speaker announcements below from the finance, government and travel sectors.
FINANCE & BANKING
🎤 Tiffany Bacha, Director, Enterprise Chief Controls Office, The Bank of New York Mellon 🎤 Denny Prvu, Director of Architecture: Innovation & Technology, R.B.C Royal Bank 🎤 Titilayo Robinson, CIAM Capability Owner, Nationwide 🎤 Brian Russell,SVP – Head of Enterprise Platform for Identity Management and Authentication, U.S. Bank 🎤 Esther Scott – Esther Scott, Director of Product Management, Capital One 🎤 Greg Williamson, VP, Digital Identity, PNC Bank 🎤 Brook Ybarra,SVP Innovation and Strategy, American Bankers Association
GOVERNMENT
🎤 Carolyn Bayer Broring, Senior Forensic Document Examiner, US DHS Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Lab 🎤 Brian Broderick, Division Chief, USCIS 🎤 Gerald Caron, Chief Information Officer, International Trade Administration 🎤 Diane Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, US Customs and Border Protection 🎤 Kenneth Gantt, Deputy Director, DHS – Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) 🎤 Sumnesh Joshi,Deputy Director General, Unique Identification Authority of India 🎤 John ‘Neal’ Latta,Assistant Administrator, TSA
TRAVEL
🎤 Louise Cole, Head Customer Experience & Facilitation, IATA 🎤 Michelle Wilson, Senior Technical Advisor, Transportation Security Administration 🎤 Annett Steenbergen, Advisor Digital Identity and Travel, Government of Aruba 🎤 Jonathan Tailley, Senior Enterprise Architect, Air Canada 🎤 John Wagner, President, John Wagner Consulting 🎤 Alan D Wapner, Board President, Ontario International Airport Authority
Delivering a unique presentation during the conference on cutting-edge biometrics, we are delighted to announce Matt Davies, Deputy Executive Director, CBP onto the schedule for Identity Week America 2023, who will join a much broader conversation and dialogue around the ethics and innovation around real world applications of biometrics.
Matthew oversees multiple national-level programs related to admissibility enforcement and traveler facilitation in addition to serving as a primary point of contact for engagement between the travel industry and OFO.
He was instrumental in leading the implementation of Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks for CBP processing at ORD – the first U.S. airport to adopt this technology innovation.
He will participate in an open panel session on 4 October, 2023, showcasing the latest innovations in biometric technologies and highlighting the rapid evolution of biometric modalities beyond traditional fingerprint and facial recognition. The participants will analyse the unique advantages and drawbacks of each of these types of biometric technologies.
Paul Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, Craefte LLC
Tadgh Smith, Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) for Technology and Transformation,U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Matt Davies, Deputy Executive Director, CBP
Brian Broderick, Division Chief, USCIS
Jay Meil, Chief Data Scientist, SAIC
Stephanie Schuckers, Professor, Clarkson University
Andrew Bud CBE, the founder and CEO of iProov, a leading London-based provider of large-scale face-based authentication services, will also be delivering a presentation on 4 October.
iProov technology is used for effortless onboarding and authentication by the US Department of Homeland Security, the UK Home Office, the NHS, GovTech Singapore, ING and Eurostar.
Identity Week America is gaining momentum, and we are excited to introduce our esteemed Gold Sponsors who are playing a pivotal role in making this event an exceptional experience for all attendees.
They will be joining over 300 other exhibitors on the show floor across the 3-4 October 2023!
REGISTER TODAY FOR FREE AND JOIN OVER 3,000 ATTENDEES ON OUR EXPO FLOOR!
Scores of states across the U.S. have followed each other in a domino effect to create a digital mobile driving license (mDL) underpinned by existing levels of standards.
In tandem with the rate and scale of innovation to driving licences, which has accelerated rapidly, a murky state of regulation and the REAL ID Act of 2005 have led the Department of Homeland Security to temporarily drop driving licence requirements.
This is amid a clashing state of interests around regulation for driving licences as digital identification as well as physical licences are now an option for drivers.
More states are creating their own mDLs in accordance with the digital age, however practical processes may still be applicable during a period of transition, such as submitting personal information, identity documents and facial biometrics to be stored centrally in a national or regional database.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 also faces privacy concerns.
The revised DHS regulations are highlighted in the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs report 2023 on the Biden government’s plans to reduce the extensive requirements for driving licence applications.
A key concern for Biden’s administration therefore seems to be ensuring citizens can use seamless public services while curbing 21 million hours of admin on the public.
The White House report states: “In addition to these examples, DHS is also anticipating and addressing potential burdens that members of the public might face, as exemplified by rulemaking around mobile drivers licenses”.
The adoption of mobile driving licences, which can be stored in digital wallets and on smart devices, has sharply inclined.
The REAL ID Act was implemented in 2005 which orders federal agencies to only accept driving licences which comply with its ID requirements. But last year, the DHS decided to withdraw the full enforcement of requirements until May 2025 whilst a lack of REAL ID standards for driving licences murky the waters.
A back-peddling on the REAL ID requirements will allow for acceptance of mDLs that meet “certain security and data integrity requirements”, DHS added.
The states of North Dakota and Georgia have recently adopted mDLs.
There is not enough inclusion of digital mobile licences under existing regulation considering the rate of adoption amongst the public and government.
The REAL ID Act, as of changes made in 2020, does include equity and recognition for digital and physical IDs but it is not robust enough.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreement has been signed between The Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Migrant Workers to provision a Philippine Identification Registration System for Filipino workers departing to or returning from overseas.
PhilSys services will be expanded to cater for the inclusion of Overseas Filipino Workers, who may live and work in another country for a period of time as Filipino citizens.
Philippine Identification System, or PhilSys, is the government’s central identification system for the registration of its citizens and enabling proof of identities at access facilities across the Philippines including, Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the election commission, Government Service Insurance System and more government agencies.
“On behalf of the PSA, I would like to extend my gratitude to the DMW for this collaboration to make PhilSys services more accessible to our OFWs,” Usec. Mapa said. “Through this joint effort, we look forward to registering OFWs and providing them the benefits of being PhilSys-registered.”
The partnership is an effort to register and recognise the last quarter of the population who are eligible to receive the PhilSys ID and as of 28 July 2023, over 80 million Filipinos have already registered with PhilSys.
The MOA enables the PSA to be located at the Department of Migrant Workers’ office in Mandaluyong, as well as working with its agencies, regional offices, and service centres nationwide, the press release stated.
The registration process is now easy for migrant workers originating from Philippines to apply to PhilSys and claim a physical ePhilID card.
The anatomy of ePhilID includes many intricate security features that make up a complex design including, demographic information, a QR code, card number and front-facing photograph. The Philippine Identification System Act was signed in 2020, with the new national ID system being rolled out two years later.
If IdentityWeek America is not on your radar, it should be. Save the date for October 3-4, 2023.
After 17 years, Identity Week is established as the leading identity and trust event which has grown substantially to become the main meeting place for experts in the identity space.
We run a global identity event series for the APAC region, Europe and U.S, split into three domains: digital identity, physical security documents and biometrics.
IdentityWeekAmericais returning toWashington D.Con3-4 October with over 3,000+ attendees from the public sector, finance, travel, healthcare and retail industries.
The event covers many converging debates and discussions which are a focus for government in policymaking and bringing in legislation that supports cybersecurity, data protection & AI, new technologies like blockchain and the metaverse, and so much more.
IdentityWeek is one of the only events in the calendar that massive multi-sector organisations in this space will attend year-on-year to give updates and announcements on their current projects.
Identity Week Asia is THE meeting place of Asia’s identity giants.
With 2,500+ industry experts in attendance, the entire identity ecosystem will be in Singapore this November, seeking the latest tech and partnerships to solve the biggest issues facing identity today.
Book your free expo pass today!
What’s included in your free expo pass?
🎟️ 2,500+ attendees ⭐️ Iconic keynote speeches 📣 Presentations from world-leading brands ⚡️ Exhibition showcase with 150+ brands ✅ Peer to peer networking 🚀 Start-up city 🚀 Start-up pitches 🍾 Networking events 📱 Identity Week Asia app
Join us 7-8 November 2023 in Singapore and claim your FREE pass today!
What else is there to look forward to?
Your FREE expo ticket means you’ve also got this to look forward to:
The ID Week expo
150 strong, the Identity Week Asia exhibition is our global flagship showcase of cutting-edge tech solutions to authenticating human identity. Whether via a secure credential, biometric, or online/digital identity solution.
Annual MIDWEEK drinks party
At the end of day 1 join us at our networking party; a networking party to end all other networking parties! Enjoy drinks and make great connections…
Start-up City
Following the huge success of our start-up village in 2022, we’re upgrading to a start-up city complete with 50 innovative start-ups working in the identity space. Meet the teams behind the future of identity.
Seminar theatre
Get answers to some of the biggest questions facing the identity industry right now. We’ll have our seminar stage jam-packed full of exciting content…
Premium networking
Bored of emails? So are we! Shed your email exhaustion and join the identity industry live and in-person this November. Build those all-important business relationships face-to-face.
North Dakota’s new driving licence design includes images of national landscapes which far from being a decorative feature, adds an additional layer of security to combat fraudsters.
Combined with regular changes, complex and intricate details on licences incorporating holograms and biometric chips disrupt fraudsters’ attempts to counterfeit documents.
All features displayed on a licence – for example, national emblems, photographs and personal information – contribute to creating a secure document that presents the holder’s identity while proving difficult to counterfeit.
The Department of Transportation in North Dakota announced the launch of the new licence on 8 August, 2023 boasting that it provides the “highest level of protection for citizens”, incorporating symbols of national heritage in the chosen imagery with security components like “a sunrise ultraviolet image” and state logo.
North Dakota is the first U.S. state to use a squircle, a square and circle that contains a see-through element. Holders of the current driving licence can continue to use this version until the expiry date, despite the rollout effort throughout August.
The additional layer of security and protection should prevent more illegal underage sales of items such as alcohol and cigarettes to minors and people under the age of 18.
Mobile digital identities including, mobile driving licenses, will be discussed in a panel session at Identity Week America 2023, joined by speakers:
Carlos Bosch, Head of Region, GSMA
Michael McCaskill, Director, Identity Management, AAMVA
Nael Samha, Acting Executive Director of Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Directorate, US Customs and Border Protection
The Identity Verification and Binding Working Group is a less well known area of work that the FIDO Alliance undertakes alongside advocating for passwordless authentication.
The Alliance has broadened its scope of encouraging other forms of stronger identity verification and since 2022 has looked to develop a range of certification programs addressing criteria for document authentication, namely the remote Document Authenticity (DocAuth) Certification Program.
There is a counter tool in using document liveness to beat spoofing which companies like ID R&D have recently promoted. This certification process by the FIDO Alliance allows vendors to certify their mobile document authentication solutions to be certain that the authenticity of genuine documents can be easily recognised or differentiated from clear signs of fraud.
The introduction of a certification process was expected in early 2023 to continue FIDO’s value proposition to bolster strong authentication.
ID R&D, an innovator in voice biometric and facial liveness detection software, published a blog written by their Chief Scientific Officer, Konstantin Simonchik, which explains how and why document liveness is on their agenda to meet FIDO requirements.
Eventually, FIDO has indicated that anti-spoofing criteria will be incorporated into the comprehensive framework of the Fast IDentity Online (FIDO). Troubling dilemmas face authorities who are trying to curb illegal migration, such as duplicated and doctored ID documents and identity theft.
FIDO’s fundamental concept of replacing traditional password-based security for two factor authentication, which may include biometrics, also must apply to requiring two pieces of evidence to verify the document holder’s identity: by validating the features on documents and using facial mapping technology and biometric comparison to their physical characteristics. Facial mapping can mitigate the risks of presentation attacks occurring by matching their document photograph with their face liveness verification.
Government-issued identity documents are crucial in the onboarding process but are often subject to presentation attacks by fraud perpetrators, which a study by ID R&D concluded happened on a 90% basis.
These attacks are currently omitted from the FIDO requirement with the role of AI evolution.
They are:
Screen replays
Printed copies
Printed cutouts (both laminated and non-laminated)
Replications on plastic
In conclusion, Konstantin writes: “the concept of “liveness” offers a new frontier for combating document forgery, extending the principles and techniques outlined in the FIDO standard. By understanding the intricacies of liveness-based attacks and harnessing the power of AI, we can enhance the integrity of our document verification processes, bolstering our defenses against an ever-evolving threat landscape”.
Singapore’s digital Singpass app is likely to become the more dominant ID used to register and vote in elections over the long-standing physical National Registration Identity Card, which was first issued in May 1966 to all Singaporeans aged 12 years old or above.
The Singpass app will be accepted at polling stations in the upcoming presidential elections, in a move towards a digitalised electoral system.
Voters can still opt to use their physical ID card when casting their vote on 13 September, 2023, however the government is encouraging adoption of the digital identity Singpass app which has greater capabilities to store data securely relating to 4.5 million voters.
Since 2021, the digital identity card has also been approved as a fundamental element to authorising services such as accessing public healthcare data, facilitating transactions and opening bank accounts.
While the Monetary Authority of Singapore has insisted on the use of the Singpass app for all transaction requests and ID proofing purposes, the physical national ID card remains in use as a token of citizenship for many and vital for applications for permanent residence status.
Physical and digital innovations at Identity Week Asia – the time to meet up with 3,000+ industry peers is fast approaching!
Today is the National Day of Singapore too! We’re celebrating by highlighting the innovative identity leaders from this small but mighty country.
They include:
Roland Tan, Assistant Director, GovTech Singapore
Helen Chua, Singapore Ambassador, Women in Identity
Allen Sng, Sub-committee Chair, Law Reform Committee
Kendrick Lee, Director National Identity, GovTech Singapore
Hannah Lim Ye Fen. Associate Professor, Business Law, Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Shaowei Ho, Principal Product Manager Trace Together, GovTech Singapore
Mar Vin Foo, Group Managing Director, SCAVAI Smart Mobility Consultancy
These dynamic and enterprising professionals will represent Singapore and their respective companies at Identity Week Asia 2023!
Register before midnight GMT on Friday to save USD $350 on full conference passes for Identity Week Asia 2023!
Germany’s children’s passport is set to be abolished from January 1, 2024 with the option for parents to choose an electronic passport for their child in the future.
Until now, there have been two types of passports in Germany for children and adolescents under 18 years old; a biometric-enabled passport and the children’s passport, which a parent or legal guardian was required to submit at the Embassy or Consulate General of your home state. The children’s passport was a much simpler document with non-biometric security features.
The biometric European passport could be issued to applicants from birth until 12 years and was valid for 6 years across all countries outside of the European Union.
IdentityWeekAsia 2023 promises to be an unparalleled gathering of industry professionals, experts, and thought leaders, all converging to shape the future of identity technology and its applications.
Join 2,500 attendees and 150 exhibitors at Asia‘s largest and most trusted identity event this November!
Register today to save USD $350 on full conference passes for IdentityWeekAsia 2023!
With government bodies sitting at the heart of IdentityWeekAsia, we want to highlight some of the industry giants speaking at this year’s event.
Check out our distinguished 2023 government speakers so far…
🎤 Kendrick Lee, Director, Product Management, National Digital Identity, GovTech 🎤 Kapil Jambhulkar, Director, UIDAI 🎤 Mohamed Awadalla, Forgery detection consultant, Forensic lab; RAK police 🎤 Mohamed Elganiny, Document examination expert, GDRFA General Directorate of Residency And Foreigners Affairs Dubai 🎤 Ivan Clarke, Passport Technical Specialist, Australian Passport Office 🎤 Lenka Bradokova, Executive Director Digital Identity, NSW Department of Customer Service 🎤 Kavita Kewal, Assistant Secretary, Identity and Biometrics Policy and Strategy Branch, Department of Home Affairs 🎤 Natalie Jones, Director, Digital Identity, Government Digital Service, UK Cabinet Office 🎤 Joanne Knight, Identification Consultant, Department of Internal Affairs, New Zealand Government 🎤 Philip Muehleck, Director of Programs Delivery – Digital Identity, NSW Department of Customer Service 🎤 Rohan Samaraweera, Senior Director Data Science, Department of Home Affairs
Kenya has been voted the most hard-hit nation tackling the fraud epidemic. However with 5,000 digital government services automating citizen services and plans for a new digital ID system due in September, Kenya is raising levelling up efforts to combat identity fraud.
Kenya unveiled the migration of its Automated Fingerprint Identification System to incorporate other biometric modalities and introduce multi-factor authentication and verification over the past ineffective Nigerian ID card.
Fraud has accelerated in recent months, which has most likely affected Kenya’s long-time failing ID card and increased criticism towards the card failing to be a readily available ID document for citizens.
The first half of 2022 saw a brief downturn in cases of fraud.
The ID card is a target for fraudsters however the government in 2019 made it mandatory to have a primary identification document to register for the national digital ID system.
The digital ID law was therefore contested and petitions campaigned against Kenya’s third generation identity cards, known as huduma namba, as well as to end the digital identity programme altogether.
The consensus on Singapore’s “little red book” ranking the world’s most powerful passport has solidified Identity Week Asia, due to take place in Singapore, as the perfect event to meet and discuss physical documents, as well as digital identity solutions.
Singapore beat Japan in the world rankings, the Henley Passport Index showed, across the APAC region and beyond for design, security features and usability which equally contributes to a useful passport. Japan was knocked off the top ranking held for 5 consecutive years after the latest study. Singapore’s passport boosts international travel to 192 countries, meeting the demand for travel while ensuring a continuous focus on the document’s security elements.
Singapore’s ambition to build the best passport ever enables travel to 193 out of 227 countries without visa entry.
The IATA, or International Air Transport Authority, inputted data to reassess the leaderboard of 227 countries delivering a well-rounded passport. 199 passports are typically considered in the Henley Passport Index consensus.
IATA’s Louise Cole who is head of Customer Experience will be joining the “Frictionless Travel” panel discussion at Identity Week America 2023 on 3-4 October.
Among the top passports determined in the Index, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Finland also performed highly.
By comparison, America’s position slipped in the global passport rankings which could be due to the U.S. not having many state-issued ID documents.
Stage set for Identity Week Asia in Singapore
The passport is not the only indicator of Singapore’s economy and foothold in international travel. GovTech Singapore, a statutory board of the Government of Singapore, has signed plenty of MUA partnerships to bolster digitalisation and digital government.
A host of high-profile speakers are already spread across the whole agenda at Identity Week Asia to contribute to full discussions between the industry’s biggest players.
Identity Week Asia will provide a central meeting point in Asia for anyone involved in authenticating human identity, whether via a secure credential, biometric, or digital identity solutions. Be in the eye-line of potential investors and partners.
Guest article provided by Tom Topol, Passport History Expert.
“In the process of crossing a border, one must offer a passport, a booklet, and engage in the task of substantiating to the border officer that they embody the very essence of the documents themselves. Contrary to common belief, many individuals hold the mistaken assumption that the authentication process operates in reverse. It is an intriguing concept that the epitome of one’s authoritative representation is not found within their tangible existence, but rather encapsulated within a mere sheet of paper.”
The word “passport” derives its significance from the notion of “passing a port,” originally associated with seaports but now predominantly linked to airports. Interestingly, “port” carries the additional meaning of “gate.” Consequently, when we find ourselves within airport premises, what do we traverse? Indeed, it is the “eGates” that await us. While the physical booklet serves as evidence to establish our identity as “the document,” the term “passport” persists, having endured for over five centuries. However, we must contemplate its suitability for the future that lies ahead.
Fast forward to 2035: “YOUR BIOMETRICS, PLEASE”.
By the year 2035, the concept of physical travel documents will have become obsolete, prompting border officers to request your biometrics instead, be it fingerprints, iris scans, or vein patterns, which will be captured using advanced scanning devices. However, it is crucial to recognise that this biometric request will not be your initial encounter with identity screening. From the moment you step foot into an airport facility, an intricate web of facial recognition cameras will have already identified you. The authorities will possess knowledge of your identity, prompting them to carry out a comprehensive personal security screening. Astonishingly, an officer may address you by name, even if you have never crossed paths before. They may inquire about your experience flying business class, seated at 9A, on Sky Airline 232 from New York to Tokyo, despite you never divulging this information.
They will even possess awareness of your stay in a compact room in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, gleaned from reading your evaluation on TripAdvisor. This may sound like a work of fiction, but it is not, as U.S. authorities are already empowered to request preflight personal data, including access to your social media profiles, before you set foot on American soil.
The trajectory of travel documents in the forthcoming years promises to be an intriguing and captivating one, regardless of the specific form they may assume. The global market for passports is currently experiencing a remarkable surge, a trend that comes as no surprise given the post-pandemic surge in travellers, flights, and tourism.
Consequently, the demand for passports has soared, necessitating enhanced security measures and heightened levels of sophistication. Crafting a modern passport entails a multifaceted challenge, encompassing considerations such as graphic design, the integration of robust security features, and ensuring technical feasibility. Can you conceive of any other personal document that surpasses the biometric passport, also known as the electronic Machine Readable Travel Document (eMRTD), in terms of sheer technological advancement? It is truly remarkable how an assemblage of cutting-edge technologies is dedicated to a document that serves the sole purpose of granting or restricting someone’s freedom to travel from point A to point B.
Two and a half centuries ago, the world existed in a vastly different state, devoid of the global interconnectedness we witness today. It is worth noting that even the United States of America had yet to come into existence during that period. At that time, the inception of a modern passport system, instigated by the French in response to the upheaval of the French Revolution, was still in its nascent stages. In stark contrast to the multifaceted and intricately designed passport booklets of contemporary times, passports of yore were remarkably simplistic.
This simplicity stemmed from the absence of concerns surrounding document security and personal identification prevalent in the present era. In essence, passports of that era possessed a purely functional nature, serving their basic purpose without the need for elaborate features.
“Mr. Jones is traveling with his wife and two daughters to the continent”.
In their simplicity, early British passports lacked any physical descriptions of the individuals they represented. It is precisely these antiquated travel documents that have captivated my attention for over two decades, fuelling my passion for research and collection. Beyond their aesthetic appeal as beautiful collectibles adorned with vibrant stamps, visas, and handwritten entries, these old passports hold a profound allure. They encapsulate documented history, encompassing elements of bureaucracy, geography, and the personal lives and destinies of their bearers. Not only do they possess historical value, but they also hold potential monetary worth, occasionally commanding significant prices in the collector’s market.
Consider, for instance, the case of a 1931 passport belonging to the esteemed American baseball icon, Lou Gehrig, which fetched an astonishing $263,000 at an auction in 2015. However, let us also ponder the significance of seemingly “ordinary” passports hailing from minuscule or extinct nations like Tanganyika, the Free State of Fiume, or Heligoland.
Though these names may evoke a sense of fantastical realms today, they were once tangible entities, albeit existing for brief periods. The realm of the British Empire, in particular, boasts a wealth of diverse passport types, some of which have become exceedingly rare and elusive in contemporary times, compelling collectors to make substantial investments to acquire these prized possessions.
In a future devoid of physical passports, these remarkable documents will continue to recount their passport historical tales, thereby enhancing their collectible value. They serve as timeless artefacts that bear witness to the unfolding narratives of our past.
So, the question, “Don’t you know who I am?” becomes redundant, for indeed, we possess a keen understanding of the individuals encapsulated within these passport narratives.
