Secure, Seamless, Inclusive: Identity Proofing that Puts People First

Last Modified: July 17, 2025

By Graham Ludlow, ID.me

Header image for ID.me's Inclusive Identity Systems article

 

ID.me is redefining how Americans sign in and verify their identity with a trusted, user-friendly digital wallet designed for security, privacy, and inclusivity. By leveraging Paravision’s market leading face verification technology, ID.me makes identity verification safer and easier for everyone. Americans rely on digital identity systems to connect with critical services, including accessing healthcare, filing taxes, travelling or signing-in to retail platforms.  However, for many, navigating traditional identity verification can be complex, time-consuming, and, in some cases, exclusionary. Today’s digital landscape demands identity systems that are not only secure, but also accessible and intuitive.

ID.me makes identity verification seamless, secure, and inclusive— aiming to allow the highest number of individuals, regardless of background or technical expertise, to quickly and easily verify their identity. Over 148 million users rely on ID.me for fast, trusted sign-in across 20 federal agencies, 45 state government agencies, 70 healthcare organizations, and more than 600 leading consumer brands. ID.me has a core principle: “No identity left behind” – it is built with inclusivity and accessibility so that
every American has a seamless, secure experience as they sign in, verify their identity, and gain access to sites and services.

A major component of making identity verification both secure and accessible is the use of face matching technology, in particular to match users to a government-issued ID card, which is required to be conformant with standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (“NIST”) related to cybersecurity and digital authentication and verification. By integrating Paravision’s industry leading face matching technology, ID.me allows users to authenticate with a simple, frictionless face match—reducing wait times, minimizing manual verification steps, and improving overall accessibility.

The Need for Inclusive and Secure Digital Identity

For decades, traditional identity verification methods have relied
on data brokers, credit data, manual document review or knowledge-based authentication, such as answering security questions. While these methods offer a basic level of security, they often create unnecessary hurdles—especially for individuals who may not have easy access to the required documents, lack a credit history, or who struggle with in-person verification processes.  This includes elderly individuals, those without access to reliable transportation, and those living in rural areas where access to government offices or reliable mail services is limited. With biometric authentication, their face is matched in real time to a verified ID—delivering a secure, automated form of multi-factor authentication without the friction of traditional methods like knowledge-based questions, data brokers, paper statements, or in-person verification.

Advances in leading face matching technology have significantly
improved accuracy across diverse demographics, helping to reduce bias and make identity verification more equitable. This progress is especially important for ID.me’s government customers, where ensuring fair and reliable identity verification methods for all individuals is essential.

Reducing Barriers and Enhancing Access

One of the key advantages of biometric authentication is its ability to streamline the verification process. As an example, in the past, many government agencies required individuals to visit physical offices, mail documents, or undergo a lengthy identity proofing process. With face authentication:

  • Wait times are drastically reduced, allowing users to access services in minutes rather than days.
  • Individuals in rural or underserved areas no longer need to travel to verify their identities in person.
  • People with disabilities can complete identity proofing more easily without relying on documentation that may be difficult to access.
  • Identity verification becomes a simple, one-time process, ensuring that millions of Americans can access services without unnecessary barriers or friction.

Trust, Security, and Compliance

While accessibility is crucial, so is security. The challenge in digital identity is ensuring that convenience does not come at the expense of fraud prevention. Face authentication must be highly accurate, resistant to spoofing, and rigorously tested for fairness. Leading face technologies, such as those ranked highly in independent evaluations like NIST’s Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE), have made significant strides in accuracy and security.

With new and highly advanced fraud prevention tools, including presentation attack detection (PAD), these systems help prevent identity fraud attempts, such as deepfakes or spoofing photos. For organizations working with ID.me, this means stronger identity assurance while maintaining a seamless experience for legitimate users.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Digital Identity

The future of identity systems is digital, and secure, inclusive biometric authentication will play a vital role in shaping this transformation. With growing adoption, biometric identity proofing will continue to enhance security, increase accessibility, and create more seamless experiences for citizens. Through ID.me’s partnership with Paravision, it is ensuring that no one is left behind in this shift toward digital identity solutions. By combining best-in-class face matching with a commitment to fairness and security, we are setting a new standard for identity verification.

Because verifying your identity online should be simple, secure, and available to everyone.

 

Graham Ludlow: Inclusive Identity Systems, Converge 4

Graham Ludlow is Director of Strategic Vendor Management at ID.me, where he leads partnerships with core technology providers to deliver secure, inclusive digital identity solutions. With a background in Financial Services, Consulting, FinTech and Identity, Graham is dedicated to increasing pass rates, optimizing UX and identifying fraud – all for the lowest cost.