Bluink launches verified biometric digital identity tool in British Columbia

Bluink’s eID-Me verified digital identity smartphone app tied to the user with biometrics is now available across Canadian province British Columbia, supporting BC Services Card, BC Driver’s License, and combined BC Driver’s License and Services Card, the company announced.

Before its release in British Columbia, eID-Me had already been successfully launched in Ontario and Quebec. Although not currently available, the team is already working on a system to verify address stickers on ID cards. eID-Me does not replace legal ID documents, but it can be a secure backup on a smartphone.

eID-Me now offers support for nine identity documents. A valid Canadian passport and the province’s driver’s license or photo card with an address on it will be necessary when registering for the service. Biometric facial recognition technology is used to compare the ID document photo against a selfie and for liveness checking.

Organizations that adopt the feature can enable users to give data sharing consent to improve service access through verified identity. Bluink does not have access to the personal data, nor does it store information in the cloud.

“Bluink’s mission is to empower people and businesses by making secure access simple using strong identities,” said in a prepared statement Steve Borza, CEO of Bluink. “To prove our commitment, our current vision is focused on enabling a self-sovereign digital identity for every Canadian. That’s how eID-Me came to life. As we are continuously developing partnerships on different levels for integration and adoption, we are also working hard to enable citizens to verify their ID and register for their eID-Me digital identity on their smartphones, all from the comfort of their own home, anywhere in Canada.”

Other updates include Bluetooth implementation for in-person transactions, improved French localization, updated settings UI (iOS), bug fixes and name order adjustment due to potential name inconsistencies between documents.

A 2019 Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) survey found that 70 percent of Canadians would adopt digital identity, and think the government and the private sector should work together on a Digital ID framework to enable easier access to government benefits, healthcare, e-commerce, and financial services.

Article Topics

biometric liveness detection  |  biometrics  |  Bluink  |  Canada  |  DIACC  |  digital identity  |  driver's license  |  facial recognition  |  identity document