Biometric Progress and User Control as U.S. Surveillance Grows

Published Date : 11/8/2025 

Explore the latest developments in biometric and digital identity technologies, including increased trust and user control, while contrasting them with the expanding surveillance practices of the U.S. government. 

Biometric and digital identity technologies are rapidly evolving to enhance trust and security. Providers and implementers are making significant strides, as seen in the most-read articles on Biometric Update. AI fraud is a growing concern, undermining trust in various digital processes, from online account onboarding to camera feeds. However, efforts like Ingenium’s test of iProov’s IAD technology, the evolution of the FIDO Alliance’s passkeys, and reusable identities from Evrotrust are promising steps towards restoring integrity to the digital world, provided governments do not erode public trust through unchecked surveillance and secrecy.

The U.S. Federal Government’s approach to facial recognition has shifted, but the exact nature of these changes remains unclear. The ICE’s “Midway Blitz” operation in Chicago coincided with a follow-on contract awarded to Clearview AI, which is banned from selling to law enforcement in Illinois. A related DHS policy document on facial recognition use disappeared from the web earlier this year, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) suggests that surveillance is expanding without adequate oversight or restrictions.

A letter signed by four Democratic senators calls on ICE to cease using Mobile Fortify and to disclose information about its legal basis, accuracy, and policy controls. The letter highlights the apparent indiscriminate use of facial recognition technology on Americans. Additionally, local law enforcement can now use the facial recognition and fingerprinting app, with CBP uploading Mobile Fortify to the Google Play store for officers deputized to perform limited federal immigration enforcement functions. It is unclear if the CBP version accesses the same dataset with hundreds of millions of biometric records as ICE.

Another letter from Senator Marsha Blackburn to PimEyes demands information on how many accounts have been blocked for targeting law enforcement and whether it can block searches used to identify or dox them. Giorgi Gobronidze, PimEyes CEO, tells Biometric Update that the site does not identify individuals or occupations, providing the statistics Blackburn requested and addressing “misinterpretations” in her letter.

New protections for cameras are now essential to keep deepfakes out of the records they provide, writes Former UK Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson. The trustworthiness of these records is crucial not only for police but for society in general, so smart devices must not be blindly trusted. Au10tix has invited evoke and Booking.com to join a webinar hosted by Biometric Update next Wednesday, focusing on how businesses can protect themselves from AI fraud. Adaptive, predictive, and collaborative defensive technologies will be demonstrated and discussed based on real-world experiences.

iProov has passed a Level 2, or “High,” evaluation for biometric injection attack detection from Ingenium Biometrics. The IAD test, based on the CEN TS 18099 standard, confirms that iProov’s Dynamic Liveness aligns with the requirements introduced in NIST’s updated digital identity guidelines. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is handling complaints from social media companies, most of them American like X and YouTube, but also Telegram, ahead of the deadline for them to comply with the country’s new age verification rules. AI chatbots could be added to the dynamic list of regulated applications.

Passkeys are gaining wider use by platforms like WhatsApp and Microsoft Password Manager, and are increasingly recognized as a critical piece of digital identity infrastructure. The protocol is evolving, with the FIDO Alliance working on improving account recovery and digital credential sharing. FIDO Alliance CEO Andrew Shikiar appears on this week’s episode of the Biometric Update podcast to discuss the growth and ongoing changes in passkeys.

Evrotrust’s $7.5 million funding round will help bring reusable digital identity that works seamlessly across borders to market. The company’s technology already supports the national digital identity system in Bulgaria, and its cryptography and biometric liveness detection meet the highest standards, according to CEO Konstantin Bezuhanov. The details for how the EU Digital Identity Wallets will function are becoming clearer, with three new Implementing Acts published by the European Union. These acts address interface standards, data protection protocols, risk policies, accreditation of conformity assessment bodies, and trust list templates.

Utah’s State-Endorsed Digital Identity (SEDI) program has received praise from the OpenID Foundation for its user control protections. SpruceID also approves, providing a checklist of good digital ID characteristics for states, noting that the SEDI program meets many of these criteria. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main concern with AI fraud in biometric systems?

A: AI fraud, such as deepfakes, can undermine the trust in biometric systems, leading to potential security breaches and identity theft. New protections for cameras and advanced liveness detection technologies are being developed to combat this issue.

Q: How is the U.S. government using facial recognition technology?

A: The U.S. government, particularly agencies like ICE and CBP, is expanding the use of facial recognition technology. However, there is a lack of transparency and oversight, raising privacy concerns and calls for more stringent regulations.

Q: What is the significance of passkeys in digital identity systems?

A: Passkeys are becoming a critical component of digital identity systems, offering a more secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords. They are gaining wider adoption by major platforms and are evolving to include features like improved account recovery and credential sharing.

Q: How is Evrotrust contributing to digital identity solutions?

A: Evrotrust, a Bulgarian company, is developing reusable digital identity solutions that work seamlessly across borders. Their technology meets high standards in cryptography and biometric liveness detection, and they have recently received significant funding to further their efforts.

Q: What are the new EU Digital Identity Wallets and how do they work?

A: The EU Digital Identity Wallets are designed to provide secure and user-controlled digital identities across the European Union. Three new Implementing Acts have been published, detailing standards for interface, data protection, risk policies, and accreditation of conformity assessment bodies. 

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