Colombia’s Digital ID Initiative Takes On Village Hackers with Biometrics

Colombia, known globally for its coffee, is making waves in the digital identity space. Since November 2020, the Colombian government has been issuing citizens a new physical identity card with a digital extension on smartphones, leveraging biometric authentication. This digital ID, known as cédula digital, is disrupting the way citizens interact with both the corporate sector and the public sphere, according to Borja Carreras, President of digital identity provider Gestión de Seguridad Electrónica S.A. (GSE), the firm behind the app.

The cédula digital is part of Colombia’s ambitious digital transformation efforts, propelling the country to the third spot on the OECD Digital Government Index in 2019. As of March, the digital ID system has 1.8 million registered users, with plans to reach 10 million by the end of 2023. The initiative, led by the National Digital Agency and run by the National Civil Registry of Colombia, extends its services to Colombian expatriates in the U.S. and digital nomads in Colombia.

The introduction of digital ID in Colombia is not just about modernization; it’s a response to the unique challenges posed by fraud and impersonation in Latin America. Unlike Europe and the United Kingdom, where online transaction fraud is a concern, Latin America faces a different level of criminal ingenuity. Carreras notes that in small villages in Latin America, individuals without technical knowledge can become hackers, driven by ample time and a lack of fear of the law.

In May, the National Registry Office initiated a pilot program for facial authentication with several banks, leveraging partner Idemia’s expertise. Beyond facial biometrics, GSE remains open to exploring other technologies. The second version of the digital ID, launched in November, introduced services like biometric matching through government databases, digital authentication and signing of documents, and notifications from public and financial institutions.

Looking ahead, GSE plans to delve into self-sovereign identities (SSI), allowing citizens to share information securely with trusted entities while preserving their privacy. The Colombian digital ID has also gained recognition as a passport, facilitating travel to various Latin American countries. GSE is actively working to extend its digital ID solution to other governments and has showcased the initiative in Peru at an event organized by national registries of South American countries.