Digital documents: Shaping the future of Identity Verification

What are digital documents?

Digital documents are a modern evolution of identity records, integrating essential information like a holder's photo, name, date of birth, and document number into a secure, app-based format for use on mobile devices. These documents, as a rule, retain the features of physical IDs, providing a trusted and flexible solution for identity verification. Importantly, digital IDs often allow users to control which details (data points) to share, enhancing both convenience and security.

Various governmental & intergovernmental initiatives related to the digital identity exemplify this transformation. With the eIDAS regulation in Europe, the European Commission aims to make digital wallets accessible to 80% of European citizens by 2030. The goal is clear: streamline identity verification and empower citizens with secure, easy-to-use digital identities. While in the United States, with initiatives like Improving Digital Identity Act, we also observe an increasing government-wide effort to promote digital identity credentials for use in the public and private sectors.

Benefits of digital documents

The appeal of digital documents lies in the multiple benefits they offer:

Convenience

• Eliminating the need for physical IDs makes IDV more accessible and user-friendly, e.g. already today in the United States airports one can use their digital documents to pass the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checks and board an airplane

Enhanced security

• Unlike physical IDs prone to theft and fraud, digital documents bring robust protection and precision to identity verification processes.

User control

• With digital documents, individuals have greater autonomy over the information they share, fostering trust and flexibility in online interactions.

The global adoption landscape

Countries worldwide actively integrate digital documents into their identity management systems. Nations like Brazil, Colombia, and the Philippines are at the forefront, embracing digital IDs to foster efficient, accessible services. Similarly, countries with already existing secure physical ID infrastructures, such as the UAE, Australia, and many U.S. states, are enhancing their systems with digital identity management solutions prompting further digitalization of services among the population.

Veriff's extensive global reach shows high adoption rates of digital ID documents in countries like the UAE, Brazil, Philippines, India, Nigeria, the US, Kuwait, Colombia and beyond, underlining the demand for a universal, digital approach to IDV.

Opportunities

The push towards digital identity verification brings unique opportunities:

Data dentralization

• A single digital identity creates a ‘one source of truth,’ simplifying verification across various platforms.

Scalability

• Digital documents streamline verification processes,  making them far more efficient than manual verifications. 

Fraud protection

• Digital IDs are inherently more resilient to fraud, safeguarding both users and businesses.

Data accuracy

• Digital documents provide consistently up-to-date information, ensuring accuracy in verification.

Challenges

The move to digital identity verification presents distinct challenges:

Interoperability issues

• The lack of common standards across borders complicates digital document verification on an international scale.

Legislative lag

• Government regulations often struggle to keep pace with technology, creating gaps in legal frameworks.

Public mistrust

• Introducing new digital technologies can sometimes meet resistance from the public, slowing adoption.

Regulatory caution

• Authorities may impose stringent regulations on digital verification, potentially hindering widespread implementation.

Preparing for a digital-first future

In the United States alone, 13 states already offer digital documents, while in some other countries,  we have examples with over 70% adoption. Thus, it is natural that users now expect seamless digital verification processes no matter the medium their identity documents come in. seeking solutions that integrate both digital and physical ID documents, thus providing flexibility and convenience. As digital documents continue to gain traction, organizations need to adapt and support a future where digital identity is the norm.

Veriff’s role in the digital IDV revolution

At Veriff, we are committed to leading the way in digital identity space document verification. By collaborating with government initiatives, such as eIDAS 2.0, and closely following US Congress legislative initiatives, we are prepared to meet the evolving needs of digital identity documents. Our system already today supports digital document verification, integrating with local across various government databases across multiple countries, demonstrating our dedication to innovation and global accessibility.

Hubert Behaghel, CTO of Veriff, forecasts a significant shift towards digital IDs and registries by 2025 to combat fraud. Several U.S. states, including Illinois, Montana, Tennessee, New Jersey, North Dakota, Wyoming, North Carolina, and West Virginia, are preparing to roll out mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) in 2025. Globally, this movement is gaining momentum, with Hong Kong's government also working on legal frameworks to introduce mDLs. Hubert believes that, "these reusable digital identities will simplify online interactions by eliminating the need to repeatedly input credentials, instead offering a single, verified profile issued by a trusted authority." He adds, "This unified approach integrates government data, public records, and user activity, strengthening fraud prevention for both businesses and individuals."

Moreover, the use of biometric technologies, such as fingerprint, facial, voice, and retina recognition, is expected to expand. Countries like India already employ retina scans, and as governments adopt digital ID systems, biometrics will play an increasingly central role in fraud prevention. Since biometrics rely on unique physical or behavioral traits, they are much harder to forge, even with advancements in AI-driven fraud techniques.

Embracing the future of digital IDV

As digital identity documents reshape the IDV landscape, Veriff stands ready to embrace this future. By partnering with governments and continuing to innovate, we are paving the way for secure, user-centric identity solutions that meet the needs of a digital-first world.

Ready to explore the power of digital IDV? Contact Veriff today and be a part of the digital document transformation.