Southeast Asia’s digital identity landscape is coming of age. Digital identification (ID) is fast becoming a part of everyday life, with nearly every country in the region in varying stages of implementation. Some countries are even pushing the boundaries of what digital IDs can achieve.
For example, to boost voter turnout, the Philippines is trialling a system for eligible voters to register at various malls, universities, government offices, and selected private establishments using digital IDs. Singapore is currently testing its Marine Vessel Pass, or digital ship identities, for seamless port clearance and refuelling operations.
The use of digital IDs in the region is quickly expanding beyond familiar applications — such as accessing banking, healthcare, and government services — revealing immense potential. With the global digital identity market projected to reach US$82.3 billion by 2028, opportunities to drive further progress within the region abound, with several trends and innovations in the industry already taking shape. So, what’s next for Southeast Asia’s digital identity landscape?
At the crossroads of biometrics and AI
The future of digital ID is in lockstep with advancements in biometrics. By leveraging unique physical characteristics, such as faces, fingerprints, and even irises, biometrics offer a highly secure verification process — far superior to legacy methods like passwords. Consequently, industries such as finance, banking, retail, e-commerce, healthcare, and aviation are increasingly adopting biometric-enabled digital IDs.
The demand for streamlined authentication will drive the increased adoption of biometrics, further fuelling the growth of the digital ID landscape.
We are already seeing the results of advanced biometrics in industries such as aviation, where technologies like electronic gates authenticate passengers in seconds, providing a touchless pathway through airports. This transformation will be crucial as passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific is expected to reach 3.9 billion by the end of 2025.
As AI gains traction across the region, it is timely to consider the opportunities AI may offer in the future of digital ID. AI is already prevalent in various biometric identification systems, improving the efficiency, reliability, and accuracy of fingerprint scanning and facial and iris recognition. As AI advances, biometric-enabled digital IDs will likely become even more robust, achieving higher precision in verifying identities.
However, AI’s potential for misuse and the risk of cyberthreats raise significant concerns. Many industries are already implementing measures to mitigate or prevent malicious applications of AI. Furthermore, numerous AI safety frameworks are being developed to support the transparent, comprehensible, and ethical use of AI in digital IDs.
Using technology to inspire trust among the populace
As exciting as AI and biometrics are for digital IDs, their success hinges on a very human element: trust.
Building this trust requires a secure and interoperable digital infrastructure across different agencies and applications. To this end, governments may consider adding advanced identity verification solutions and digital ID wallets to national digital ID initiatives, enhancing both security and public confidence in digital identification.
Today, users need only to look into a smartphone camera to verify their identities at checkpoints. This is the promise of advanced identity verification technologies. Biometric authentication, combined with real-time data checks, confirms that users are who they claim to be. Soon, facial recognition technologies will enable users to pass through security checkpoints without needing a stack of physical documents.
Digital ID wallets, meanwhile, can securely store all your identification documents. These virtual wallets protect personal data with robust encryption and safeguard it from unauthorised access and common cyberthreats. Additionally, digital ID wallets allow users to control their privacy, choosing only the information they wish to share for each transaction.
By incorporating identity verification solutions and digital ID wallets into national identity systems, governments can reduce digital identity theft and fraud, fostering a secure, efficient, and user-friendly digital identity infrastructure across public and private sectors. This is the future of identity, where technology not only simplifies life but enhances security too.
Tapping external expertise and know-how
Today, advanced identity verification and digital ID wallets are already being deployed in impactful ways. By the end of 2024, Singapore’s Changi Airport will enable travellers to clear checkpoints using only biometric authentication — no passports required. Likewise, Indonesia’s Digital Population Identity, set for implementation by late 2024, will double as a digital ID wallet for storing identity-related documents.
While countries in the region continue making strides, trust has emerged as a key asset for organisations. The success of digital identification across Southeast Asia relies on strong public-private partnerships. By tapping into the innovation and expertise of private entities, governments can bolster the efficiency and security of national digital ID programmes, creating systems that are resilient, inclusive, and robust against cyberthreats.
Ultimately, collaborative integration of these technologies will pave the way for a more secure and inclusive digital future, driving economic growth and improving quality of life across the region.
