In recent years, the European Union has made impressive strides in advancing digital identity on the continent to improve the management and facilitation of the free movement of information between private and public entities in Europe. It is important that enterprises in Europe, especially technologically oriented entities, stay updated on digital identity trends to facilitate operations or data collection efforts. This article aims to expose the reader to digital identity verification trends in Europe, particularly ones undertaken in the European Union, which notably excludes the United Kingdom. 

Trends in Digital Identity Verification in Europe

There are several advanced ventures and regulations the European Union has implemented or is working towards concerning digital identity verification within the continent. They include;

1. Electronic Identification and Trust Services (eIDAS)

eIDAS is a key driver in the advancement of digital identity verification in Europe, supporting the development of a more integrated and secure digital economy.eIDAS, which stands for Electronic Identification, Authentication, and Trust Services, is a regulation established by the European Union to provide a secure and reliable foundation for digital identity verification across the continent. It plays a pivotal role in ensuring that electronic identification schemes from different EU member states are interoperable, allowing a digital identity issued in one country to be used for verification purposes in another. 

This cross-border interoperability fosters a more unified digital market, facilitating smoother and more efficient digital interactions across Europe. The regulation also sets technical and procedural standards for electronic identification and trust services, creating a fair industry for businesses and ensuring a baseline level of security for online transactions. These standards help to maintain a high level of security and reliability, which is essential for the successful implementation of digital identity systems. 

By adhering to these standardized practices, businesses can ensure that their digital identity verification processes are robust and trustworthy. eIDAS promotes increased trust and confidence in online interactions between individuals, businesses, and public authorities by establishing a clear and consistent framework. This framework helps to build confidence in the use of digital services, encouraging wider adoption and leading to more efficient and secure online transactions. 

2. Biometric Authentication

Advanced biometric technologies, such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, are being increasingly explored for secure and convenient identity verification. In January 2023, the European Banking Authority (EBA) mandated strong customer authentication with biometric liveness checks, further highlighting its potential.

European Digital Identity Wallet (EDIW)

The EU is actively promoting the development of a  European Digital Identity Wallet (EDIW). This secure digital wallet will allow citizens to store and manage their verified identities, credentials, and attributes. They'll then be able to easily and controlled share this information with service providers, streamlining verification processes.

3. Decentralized Identity (DID)

Decentralized Identity leverages blockchain technology to create secure, tamper-proof digital identities. This approach can offer enhanced privacy and security compared to traditional methods. The EU is actively exploring how DID solutions can be integrated with eIDAS and other initiatives.

4. European Self Sovereign Identity Framework

The ESSIF (European Self-Sovereign Identity Framework) scenario was included among the first EBSI (European Blockchain Service Infrastructure) projects in 2019 because digital identity is fundamental to other EBSI scenarios. ESSIF is a pan-European project based on the principles of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) using blockchain technologies. Its goal is to create a generic and interoperable SSI framework, allowing citizens to independently create, control, and use their digital identities without relying on a single centralized authority. This framework will support various identity-related functions, including identification and authentication, and will interact with other public and private systems.

ESSIF aims to facilitate digital interactions between different parties in the public and private sectors, as well as processes between citizens and public administration bodies across all EU Member States. The project is designed to be GDPR compliant and align with eIDAS, leveraging existing legal frameworks to ensure digital evidence supports legal enforceability. ESSIF's integration with the revision of eIDAS seeks to enhance its effectiveness, extend its benefits to the private sector, and promote trusted digital identities for all Europeans, creating a secure and interoperable European digital identity framework that empowers citizens.

 Also, read the trends in digital identity verification in Nigeria, South Africa, Canada. and in the UK

Top 3 Digital Identity Verification Solutions by Youverify

Many identity verification companies offer digital identity verification solutions.  Top on the list is Youverify, which offers software compliance solutions tailored to companies of all sizes. Youverify's solutions are designed to be seamless, user-friendly, and easily scalable, ensuring businesses can efficiently manage compliance requirements as they grow and on the go. 

Youverify offers a range of advanced digital identity verification solutions, which include:

1. Liveness Detection

Youverify's liveness detection is a solid protection against spoofing and identity fraud; it is highly accurate. It leverages artificial intelligence and deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs); the system detects fake presentations like 3D masks, projections, etc. 

It helps prevent forgery through replay attacks, such as videos, recorded deep fakes, or avatars. Its superior technology allows it to seamlessly detect 2D photos and 3D facial movements. 

2. Biometrics Verification

Youverify's biometrics verification synchronizes facial recognition and liveness recognition. It is an all-in-one facial biometric check against the provided or required ID. 

3. ID Document Verification

Youverify's ID document verification system checks Youveriy's global document verification network to ensure the validity of an ID document. It is a fast and secure way to ensure that complaint and verification measures are not thwarted. 

Read Also: Emerging Trends in AML: What Businesses Should know

Bottom line

Digital identity verification in the UK is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in AI and blockchain technology. These trends are enhancing security, user experience, and efficiency in identity verification processes, which are crucial for combating identity fraud in the digital age. 

Companies like Youverify are at the forefront, offering cutting-edge solutions to meet the growing demands for secure and scalable digital identity verification. Businesses can verify the identity of their customers in real-time with fast and accurate results while maintaining a high level of security and compliance.

See why over 300+ global businesses use Youverify for their digital identity verification needs by booking a free demo.