Digital identities are becoming increasingly mainstream, but they’re currently not a one-size-fits-all offering – they come in all shapes and sizes. The travel sector is no exception to that, with digital or e-passports, mobile wallets, and digital travel credentials (DTCs) just a few examples of digital identities currently on the market. And no doubt, we’ll see more iterations emerge in years to come, too.
In this article in Biometric Update we hear about how digital travel credentials – i.e. electronic versions of physical passports – are currently rising to the top of the pecking order, delivering a host of benefits from international operability to heightened digital trust. Biometric Update called upon Thales’ Head of Business Development and Strategic Marketing, Neville Pattinson, to get his thoughts on the topic. Pattinson shared some key considerations, including:
- W3C verifiable credentials: Tamper-evident credentials are being built into digital travel credentials, ensuring authorship can be cryptographically verified. This establishes greater trust and security for both user and service operator alike.
- Universal standards, interoperable applications: Abiding by standards – like the US’ ISO 18013-5 (or -7) standard – and being able to verify issuers’ digital signatures, will be necessary to create a secure, private, and powerful digital identity ecosystem. This will enable interoperable interactions across both private and public sectors.
- The importance of PQC, decentralisation, and effective biometric liveness: Digital travel credentials without each of these tenets would undermine the entire trust framework; they will prove integral to digital travel credentials wider rollout across industries in years to come.
To read more, check out the article here, or have a look at some of our blogs on digital identities and travel:
