- Challenge Provides Industry Partners Unique Opportunity to Test, Refine and Showcase Remote Identity Technologies
WASHINGTON, USA – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announces the launch of the Remote Identity Validation Rally (RIVR), a series of technology challenges running throughout 2025, in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Forensic Laboratory, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
In 2024, DHS S&T completed the Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration (RIVTD), which found that while some remote identity validation technologies can perform well, commercially available products vary significantly. Based on industry performance demonstrated in RIVTD, S&T has set robust benchmarks for RIVR. The new evaluation series challenges industry to deliver secure, accurate, and user-friendly remote identity validation technologies to combat identity fraud when users apply for government services, open bank accounts or verify social media accounts.
“As demand for secure, efficient access to online government and commercial services grows, S&T remains committed to working with innovative technology developers to advance remote identity validation technologies that enhance security and improve the user experience,” said Arun Vemury, DHS S&T senior advisor for Biometric and Identity Technologies. “Through the RIVR, we will partner with industry to foster innovation, incentivize competition, and accelerate progress in making these technologies more secure and reliable against evolving threats.”
S&T and its partners will evaluate the ability of systems to authenticate identity documents, assess the “liveness” of selfie photos, and evaluate identity verification using images taken with smartphones and similar devices.
“For many years, we have been relying on S&T’s scientifically rigorous and independent testing of our identity technology and processes,” said TSA Identity Management Capability Manager Jason Lim. “TSA is very pleased to once again partner with S&T on the continuation and expansion of this effort to ensure that remotely enrolled digital identities meet our threshold of trust, security, and privacy as the use of digital IDs, including mobile driver’s license, continues to expand.”
“In the past year, we’ve seen tremendous engagement from the identity and biometrics technology industry and have evaluated approximately 50 commercial solutions,” said Vemury.
“It is vital that we understand the capabilities of these technologies, therefore NIST is enthusiastic to contribute to this important ongoing effort through robust technology evaluations and standardized metrics,” said NIST Biometrics Evaluator Patrick Grother.
Technology developers of remote identity validation capabilities are encouraged to participate in these first RIVR efforts, which will focus on testing the performance of systems matching “selfies” to identity documents and determine the authenticity of identity documents.
Applications for new participants are due April 11, 2025. Additional technology evaluations will be announced later this year. Register for the March 12, 2025 informational webinar.
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