Debora Comparin, Chair of OSIA Initiative, SIA and Standardisation Expert, Thales

Thanks to co-author Yiannis Theodorou, Head of Digital ID, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change for his contribution to this commentary.

As governments continue to build inclusive digital-ID ecosystems to unlock the value of digital transformation for their people, many are facing the challenge of which related technology solutions to adopt.

In markets that encourage competition and innovation, it is common to see the creation of proprietary, closed and non-interoperable systems when a new industry is formed; remember the days when the phone you bought in Europe could not be used to make or receive calls in the United States? Eventually, though, the forces of supply and demand drive the industry towards harmonised, optimal solutions and common standards.

Today’s identity market is an environment of siloed foundational and functional ID systems, partly built on proprietary technologies. But, as the market matures, new tech solutions are drastically redefining the landscape. Mobile-ID solutions, sophisticated biometrics, cloud computing and other technologies have made it possible to develop integrated national ID ecosystems that are efficient, cost-effective and secure, without necessarily involving centralised databases.

Yet many countries still have a long way to go before they can realise this vision, and their ability to easily switch to new technology partners or providers is severely hampered by the complexity of existing systems or contractual arrangements. For example, if a newly procured digital-ID provider must deal with encrypted biometric templates in an existing database, it would need to access the raw biometric images captured and stored by the previous provider’s systems. If the unencrypted raw images are not available or reliable, the government will likely be forced to re-register the entire population.

Vendor lock-in constrains development because any change is subject to considerable costs and the risk of operational failures. At the same time, to benefit from the latest technologies, governments need to update, adapt and upgrade their legacy systems while having the freedom to choose the most appropriate solutions to meet their needs.

Two main approaches have emerged that offer governments the flexibility and freedom they need: open standards and open-source software.

Landmark qualification enables the ITU-T to normatively reference OSIA specifications

Secure ePassport chips result in trust and efficiency

What is ‘PKI’? An introduction

This article can be downloaded   default HERE (2.26 MB)

Trust in passports is essential. PKI technology gives strong evidence that information on a secure passport chip can be trusted. This helps authorities issue more secure passports, increase security and throughput at the border, increase automation and catch identity cheats. It can help airports, airlines and commercial parties to check documents and carry out KYC (Know Your Citizen or Know Your Customer). Genuine passengers are more able to demonstrate their true identity quickly. Conversely, identity cheats stand more chance of being discovered.

Threats of passport fraud are real! A genuine document can be lost, stolen or borrowed and used by someone who is not the holder (an imposter or lookalike). A criminal might try to change the photograph or other data about the holder, to turn a passport into his own travel document (a forgery). A false passport might be manufactured (a counterfeit). Someone may make a false application to obtain a passport (a Falsely Obtained Genuine (FOG)). Or someone may steal blank passports which have not yet been personalised (had the holder’s details applied).

Great care is taken to defend passports from such attacks. This includes strong security on the manufacture, storage and delivery of documents; rigorous testing of new passport applications; and advanced security features in passports so that false documents are difficult to produce or use. See Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them (Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), 2021); and ICAO 9303 Part 2: Specifications for the Security of the Design, Manufacture and Issuance of MRTDs (see references).

Secure chips improve security and convenience

Many passports and ID cards contain a chip, holding key data about the document and the holder, including the holder’s facial photograph. All of this data is protected by the issuer who includes a cryptographic digital signature on the chip. This signature, when verified, shows that data on the chip comes from the right source and has not been changed. Only the issuer can produce this signature, but everyone who needs to can verify that the signature and the data match. If so, it can be trusted; if not, it can’t. The complete picture is called a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

The OSIA qualification program aims at enhancing interoperability of ID management systems, support ID solution development, and address government requirements for OSIA compliance.

 By Joachim Caillosse - Chair of the SIA Document Security Working Group, Frank Smith, Advisory Observer to the SIA and Thomas Poreaux - Member of the SIA Document Security Working Group. 

The use of false identities is a problem that goes far beyond the area of border control. Though fraudulent identification documents are commonly associated with issues like immigration, they can also be used to aid serious organised crime, terrorism, fraud, and a range of other threats. As a result, accurate verification of identity documents is now a major concern in additional contexts including areas such as financial services and digital retail.

'Authentication: Are You Who You Claim to Be?'is a new guide from the SIA that addresses the challenge of identity authentication. Discussing the inherent difficulty in validating someone’s identity, as well as some of the solutions that are currently available, the report also provides detailed use cases and recommendations for anyone who may be looking to improve their understanding of this critical practice.

“It is very useful and highly informative report providing answers to questions concerning the Optical Machine Authentication (OMA) and in turn highlighting its increasing role in document authentication. The report will help practitioners expand their understanding of benefits and challenges linked to the increased use of optical authentication technologies.”

Malik Alibegovic, INTERPOL CCSD

In this blog, we provide a summarised view of some of the key themes covered in the guide.

Facial Recognition (FR) has evolved considerably in recent years and has many important potential benefits such as ease and security of use, privacy protection, and the detection and deterrence of crime. However, it can also be used excessively and intrusively and needs to be used appropriately, in circumstances that are justified and in accordance with good privacy laws and principles.

The SIA believes that recent moves to ban facial recognition technologies in a number of US states are premature. Similarly, in the EU, recent proposals regarding the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems classify those intended to be used for remote biometric identification as ‘high risk’. If adopted, these systems would require a stringent ex-ante conformance assessment.

Pressing the pause button without a reasoned debate on privacy and civil rights, or on the potential IP and sovereignty issues of greater regulation, represents a potentially backward step for public safety that also limits the abilities of companies to transact securely with consumers in the digital world. See our blog on artificial intelligence here.

Facial recognition technologies have proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it possible for citizens to enrol remotely for services and verify their identity.

The SIA believes it is up to the authorities to play their role as regulators and to define the limits and conditions of use of facial recognition technologies, working with the industry to put in place governance frameworks that address the concerns of all stakeholders.

As governments and NGOs look to health certificates as a response to the challenge of safely reopening borders and reinstating freedom of movement for citizens, there is now a very real urgency in consolidating approaches, agreeing standards and achieving interoperability. Failure to do so will reduce international acceptance and threaten to derail these important initiatives. Here, we take a look at the key issues.

Health certificates schemes promise to streamline how people demonstrate they are unlikely to either catch or spread a particular disease, or diseases. While not a new concept, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought discussions of wider adoption and standardized adoption into sharp refrain.

In today’s context, these schemes use physical and/or digital certificates to make it easier for airlines, airports, border control agencies and others to verify whether a certificate holder has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has tested negative for the virus, or has recovered from it.

The increasingly widespread introduction of these certificates has allowed governments to lift a number of pandemic-related restrictions – from cross-border travel to attending large public gatherings such as sporting events.

 

On April 21, 2021, the European Commission proposed new rules and actions on the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems with the stated objective to “turn Europe into the global hub for trustworthy artificial intelligence”.

Following a risk-based approach, the proposals will ban those AI systems considered a clear threat to the safety, livelihoods and rights of people. Others will be rated on a risk scale from high to minimal. In particular, all remote biometric identification systems are considered high risk and subject to strict requirements.

Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), whose members are European and global leaders in this fast-emerging space, are supportive of the principles to ensure excellence and trust in AI systems, and believe a fit-for-purpose framework has the potential to become an adopted standard around the world – as has been the case with the General Data Protection Regulation.

However, SIA believes that the rules governing the development and provision of AI systems should be proportionate.

As the proposals stand today, there is a concern that some rules threaten to stifle innovation and therefore undermine the stated goals of the Commission and the position of Europe as a leader in this critical field of technology.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari is showing the NIMC (National Identity Management Commission) NIN (National Identity Number) slip – that can be verified against the central national ID database leveraging OSIA interface

By Joachim Caillosse, Chair of the Secure Document Working Group of the Secure Identity Alliance

An in-depth new guide to help tackle passport booklet fraud

Document fraud is a serious crime, one that has implications that stretch from personal identity theft all the way through to national security. Moreover, document fraud often serves as the foundation upon which other threats are built – human trafficking, drug smuggling, and terrorism amongst them.

Passport fraud is a key part of this landscape, and a growing problem. While Covid-19’s debilitating affect on international travel has helped to slow the rise of passport fraud over the past 12 months, the longer-term picture tells a different story altogether Some 100m travel documents were reported lost or stolen in 2020^₁ and according to Frontex Risk Analysis, passports represented 47% of the fraudulent documents detected at European Union external borders in 2019, leading some commentators to decry a growing passport fraud “epidemic²”.

Ever keen to raise awareness of identity-related threats and provide guidance on the latest defences and countermeasures, the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) has this week launched its “Passport Fraud Trends and Ways to Combat Them” report – a comprehensive overview of the current travel document security landscape.

By Michael Brandau, Chair of the Secure Identity Alliance's Border Working Group.

With technology, Covid-19, and a number of other factors driving major change at the border, the Secure Identity Alliance has updated Strong Identity Strong Borders, a guide designed to help anyone who wants to understand the subject more, but who is not an expert.

Strong Identity, Strong Borders introduces the key concepts and explores the evolution of border control, and how those responsible for safeguarding their territory can embrace new approaches around identity in order to create secure, seamless, and streamlined passenger experiences.

Today the refreshed Principles on Identification for Sustainable development were published. Secure Identity Alliance is proud to have once again been asked to contribute to this important body of work to ensure that these updated Principles reflect today’s changing world and its own vision of supporting the provision of legal, trusted identity for all.

Five years ago the Secure Identity Alliance, along with other organisations committed to the development of ID systems that are inclusive, trusted, and accountable and supported the development of a set of shared ‘Principles for Good Identification’.

by Kristel Teyras, Chair of the Digital ID Working Group of the Secure Identity Alliance

With governments poised to accelerate national digital ID programs, the SIA commissioned a study to uncover lessons learned from innovative, real-life digital ID deployments around the world.

Providing unprecedented ‘on the ground’ insights and perspectives, the study produced in partnership with onepoint gives a unique voice to stakeholders from 25 innovative sovereign digital ID schemes. Their shared learnings highlight the guiding principles and good practices that are critical for driving usage, adoption, and success – regardless of the digital ID model adopted.

In the modern world it’s easy to characterize physical ID documents as outdated and irrelevant. But to do so would be to overlook the practical realities, and ubiquitous adoption, of these durable physical credentials.

We live in a world where the movement towards mobile and digital formats for a wide variety of identity documents – such as national IDs and driver licenses – is already underway. Indeed, the COVID-19 public health crisis has served to propel Governments to accelerate digital (mobile) ID adoption so locked-down citizens could still securely access a range of digital public and private services. Everything from registering a child’s birth to collecting pension payments, and using their digital ID to prove their ‘key worker’ status and permission to travel.

But that doesn’t mean that the physical ID document is no longer needed. Rather than simply being replaced by new digital formats, they continue to be the pre-requisite for the overall success of many schemes.

Nomination acknowledges the pioneering work of the Secure Identity Alliance in supporting the development of secure and trusted digital identities for all.

While domestic and international restrictions imposed to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus have a tremendous impact on cross-border passenger volumes, and the longer-term picture remains unclear, it is no less important to continue to leverage the latest technologies to both strengthen borders and improve traveller experiences.

Over recent years, the technology has radically evolved in fields such as identity, security, biometrics and mobile applications to do exactly this. Technology has already transformed the world of border security and efficient processing of passengers, for example through secure ePassports (also known as electronic Machine Readable Travel Documents or eMRTD), automated eGates, biometrics used to assure visa regimes, and mobile boarding passes.

However, the story is far from complete. A newer generation of secure and efficient solutions are just beginning with the development of the Digital Travel Credential (DTC).

An immediate analysis of the coronavirus crisis highlights, among other things, the significant and growing role of technology in general, and digital identity in particular, in helping citizens, businesses and government agencies adapt and respond.

With citizens in many countries forced into homeworking and home-schooling, most at incredibly short notice, many millions turned to digital tools to communicate, collaborate, work and transact online. While these proved helpful for knowledge workers and those businesses with flexible (and often cloud-based) IT infrastructures, the crisis uncovered huge areas for improvement.

This was particularly clear when it came to access to the provision of public services – many of which lacked a cohesive digital alternative to face to face interactions. At the heart of the issue was the lack of a digital identity that would allow citizens to securely access services remotely.

For those citizens unable to access basic public services and social protections in a digital context, this lack of a digital identity and a connected ecosystem of digital service caused considerable problems.

This, Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) believes, is one of the key learnings to take away from the crisis. A secure and universally trusted digital identity, based on a government root and sourced from civil registries, is fundamental to the development of a wider ecosystem of both public and private services.

New executive team elected to drive trusted identity advocacy program

How to address the challenge of enabling the delivery of trusted mobile ID that’s secure, convenient, and easy for citizens to use

Digital identity sits at the heart of economic and social transformation. Around the globe, governments are busy fast-tracking the delivery of streamlined e-services that touch every aspect of people’s lives – from paying tax to accessing healthcare and education.

Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) announces composition of OSIA Advisory Committee.

 Picture : Mr Eng Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, Director General/CEO, NIMC, Nigeria and Chair of the OSIA Advisory Committee and Ms Debora Comparin, Chair of the OSIA Workgroup, Secure Identity Alliance on stage at ID4Africa for the launch of OSIA.

Following the successful launch of OSIA (Open Standards Identity API) at ID4Africa in Johannesburg, the Secure Identity Alliance is happy to welcome the following government agencies in its OSIA Advisory Committee:

In its capacity as an Advisory Observer, Ivory Coast ONECI, represented by Mr Diakalidia Konate, Director General, will participate in the Advisory Committee of the OSIA (Open Standards Identity API) initiative.

Pioneering industry-first open standards initiative assures interoperability for sovereign ID programs and eliminates vendor lock-in

In its capacity as an Advisory Observer, Nigeria NIMC, represented by Mr Engr. Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, Director General/CEO, will chair the Advisory Committee of the OSIA (Open Standards Identity API) initiative

Focus this year includes ID ecosystem evolution, eDocument security and the role of biometrics in identity

Dear colleagues,

We’re looking forward to collaborating closely with our colleagues and partners in 2019 to create a more secure world where legal, trusted identity empowers citizens to access services and exercise their rights.

Interoperable Identity Registries Interface (Open Source API) published on GitHub by Secure Identity Alliance to deliver technical interoperability between civil registries and ID systems

Industry-first initiative promises to eliminate vendor lock-in and reduce costs for governments around the world.

SDW 2018  – Open API – eDocuments Physical Security Evaluation

Dear colleagues,

In this latest roundup of SIA activity, I am delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new initiative that, I believe, will have a profound and positive impact on the design and implementation of national identity programs. We also have a wealth of new content available. I would urge you all to take a look.

The SIA’s pioneering new Open Source API will bring interoperability among civil registration and civil identification registries – independent of technology, solution architecture or vendor.

Citizens around the world depend on government issued identities to prove they are who they say they are and to undertake commonplace transactions – from opening bank accounts or registering for school, to obtaining formal employment or receiving social transfers.

It is crucial, therefore, that governments are able to ensure citizens are the same person across all these various registries and issuing agencies, and that an individual’s data – or attributes – are up-to-date. Doing so protects the individual against the risk of identity theft and state agencies against fraud.

To achieve this objective these different registries need to ‘talk’ to one another.

It is this imperative that is currently driving governments around the globe to rollout national ID ecosystems in which multiple identity registries and systems, serving different functions, operate together as a cohesive whole.

Efficient and reliable patient identify management will be an essential element in making the benefits of integrated care a reality. This was the core message at the launch of a joint new publication from COCIR and the SIA entitled ‘Identity in Healthcare’ at the HIMSS Europe and Health 2.0 conference in Barcelona. The publication brings much-needed clarity and key recommendations to the ID challenge facing the health sector.

Sanjay Dharwadker, head of global ID consultancy services at WCC will represent WCC.

Dr Joseph J. Atick, Executive Chairman, ID4Africa, will represent ID4Africa

New Code of Conduct sets out the commitment of Secure Identity Alliance members to highest standards of ethics and excellence in the design and implementation of digital ID systems, the beating heart of Government eServices delivery, upon which sustainable social and economic inclusion is built.

SIA to showcase new best practice guidance on the development of a cohesive and effective eBorder strategy at SDW 2017 and INTERPOL World 2017

The SIA call for participation by eDocument issuers and manufacturers across the world at SDW 2017

Ouverte par le Premier ministre de Namibie, la troisième conférence bilingue (français-anglais) du mouvement ID4Africa (1) a réuni près de 1000 des acteurs de l’identité numérique à Windhoek en Namibie, de plus de 30 pays.

While the concept of identity (ID) remains unchanged, the rapid evolution of digital technology has dramatically extended both its application and form factor.

As Digital ID becomes a day-to-day reality for ever greater numbers of public stakeholders and citizens across the globe, our goal is to continue to accelerate the adoption of secure access and authentication solutions that will continue to drive the digital ID agenda forward.

Today, the Secure Identity Alliance has joined the global partnership network on identification and endorsed the ‘Principles on Identification for Sustainable Development: Toward the Digital Age’ which aims to provide a set of guidance in establishing and utilizing legal identification systems for sustainable development.

The Secure Identity Alliance has been happily contributing to the Web Fraud Prevention and Online Authentication Market Guide 2016/2017 which has just been released and been made available for download in the Reports section of their website.

Paris, December 12, 2016 – The Secure Identity Association (SIA), the global identity and secure eServices advisory body, today announces that digital consultancy, Sofie, has joined the Association as an Advisory Observer – marking another important milestone in the rapid growth of the SIA.

The Secure Identity Association (SIA), the global identity and secure eServices advisory body, today announces that Estonia e-Governance Academy (eGA) has joined the Association as an Advisory Observer.

Today, the World Bank, Secure Identity Alliance, and GSMA have launched a joint white paper, “Digital Identity: Towards Shared Principles for Public and Private Sector Cooperation”.

Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) today announces that Veridos, the joint venture between Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Munich, and Bundesdruckerei GmbH, Berlin, pooling the expertise of the two largest German providers for high-security technologies to serve the international market, has joined the Alliance as a Board Member of the SIA.

Ce rapport devrait être d' un intérêt particulier pour les organisations internationales et les organismes gouvernementaux qui sont impliqués dans la création ou la réorganisation de l'état civil et des systèmes d'identité

Imprimerie Nationale, the French National Printing Group, and a leader in secure identity solutions, has joined the EEIG Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) as a member of the Board, alongside the founding members Gemalto, Oberthur Technologies and Safran Morpho.

This report should be of particular interest to international organizations and government agencies that are involved in the establishment or reorganization of civil registration and identity systems.

Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) publishes ‘Civil Registry Consolidation through Digital Identity Management’ report in support of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

By courtesy of our Government Observer Member, the National Office for Identity Data, Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom relations.

Marking an important step in the evolution of secure documents and secure digital service provision, the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA) today welcomes the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) of the Netherlands, through its National Office for Identity Data, as an observer member.

‘Civil Registry Consolidation through Digital Identity Management’ to be presented at the eID Conference in Washington on 29 September 2015.

As the appetite for developing identity-based e-government services grows, Jacques van Zijp, Board Member from Secure Identity Alliance discusses the interoperability challenges now at the heart of cross-border ID discussions.

Identity is going digital, and moving to the mobile. For most, this is a positive step. Identity is proliferating at an incredible rate. From the low level ‘sign-in through Facebook’ variants to high security access to, and usage of, a new range of central government and smart city services, the ability to prove who we say we are (when we’re mobile) is a strategic imperative. And It’s not just about convenience or security.

Presentation given by Jacques van Zijp on eID and Social Protection Programs in the Developing Countries at SDW2014 in London

We have asked Guy de Felcourt, Digital Identity Strategy Advisor and Published Author, who animated the BMI-Secure Identity Alliance eIDAS Workshop to tell us why EU Regulation No.910/2014 represents a major step forward in enabling digital identity in Europe and examines the value this will deliver for member states, companies and citizens.

The Secure Identity Alliance today announced that the German Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern - BMI) has joined its ranks as an Observer Member.

New report from the GSMA and Secure Identity Alliance outlines the growing value of mobile identity for governments looking to deliver inclusive access to digital services, protect citizens online and drive economic growth

The Secure Identity Alliance announces its official support and participation in the eID Conference 6th Edition at the Intercontinental Hotel Budapest, Hungary, on 13 and 14 October 2014.

Our First Anniversary: Celebrating a Year of Success
Announcing Next Milestones

This quarter, Jacques Van Zijp, Board Member of the Secure Identity Alliance looks at how eID is helping secure social protection and unlocking a sustainable, empowered future for communities around the globe.

Secure Identity Alliance welcomes eIDAS as a ‘major step forward’ in ID interoperability, citizen privacy and efficient eGovernment services