Notwithstanding major holidays in North America, the past week has seen some notable new developments in the world of digital and mobile identity — including some intriguing news from the US.
It’s Not All About the Orb
First, though, some international news care of an ambitious startup: Okta’s Auth0 Marketplace now supports Worldcoin as a login option, signaling growing support for the crypto project.
Founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Alexander Blania, Worldcoin is building a blockchain-based identity platform that involves the use of iris scans to verify end users. The Auth0 Marketplace is meant to offer developers a range of login tools, but its support for Worldcoin won’t necessarily require end users to sign in with their iris biometrics. Instead, developers will get access to a “Sign in with Worldcoin” social login tool that lets end users scan a QR code on their World App or another digital wallet from the Worldcoin ecosystem.
The development suggests that mobile technology will play a central role in Worldcoin’s digital identity platform, even if the company’s iris-scanning orb devices continues to capture its share of media attention.
Thai ID Goes Mobile
But it wasn’t just the private sector that brought mobile identity news to the fore in recent days. Thailand’s Interior Ministry has announced the official launch of “ThaID”, a mobile identity app designed to help residents access government services online.
Part of the country’s “Thailand 4.0” strategy, the digital ID saw an initial rollout for access to select services earlier this year, starting with services under the Internal Affairs Ministry. The Thai government says it is now supported by 50 state agencies and 24 private organizations, and that 3.5 million people have already signed up.
Citizens are able to register for the digital ID remotely through an identity verification system that uses facial recognition technology, the Bangkok Post reports.
A Promotion in California
Finally, in the US, some interesting news out of California, where Governor Gavin Newsom named a key architect of the state’s budding digital ID system as its new Chief Technology Officer. Jonathan Porat had previously served as California’s Chief Technology Innovation Officer, a role that included overseeing its “Digital ID” project, which the state has been testing out with partner agencies.
The news comes after the Chief Digital Transformation Officer at the California Department of Motor Vehicles revealed that his agency was preparing for a digital ID pilot that could launch later this summer. And with the former head of the state’s digital ID program now serving as its Chief Technology Officer, it may be that such projects become an even higher priority as California seeks to catch up with other mobile ID pioneers.
There’s surely more to come as mobile ID technology continues to gain momentum, so stay tuned to Mobile ID World for all the latest developments.
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July 7, 2023 – by Alex Perala
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