A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

The Identity & Payments Summit brought together over 420 professionals from nearly 200 organizations, solidifying its position as a key platform for exploring emerging security trends in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.Attendees engaged in immersive educational sessions and networking opportunities focused on the convergence of payments, access, transit, and identity.

Though only in its second year, the Identity & Payments Summit has quickly become a leading platform for inspiring innovation and fostering partnerships essential to advancing payments and trusted digital identity.

– Christina Hulka, executive director of the Secure technology Alliance

Hulka emphasized the importance of collaboration in the face of disruptive technologies:

As we contend with industry-disrupting technologies like quantum computing and AI, and mobile driver’s licenses and touchless payments transform the landscape, the collaboration between financial institutions, technology providers and standards-makers is more critical than ever. Our Summit exists to break down the walls that separate industries so that we can work together to build solutions that are seamless, secure and convenient for all.

Mobile Driver’s Licenses Take Center stage

One of the Summit’s most anticipated events was the Mobile Driver’s License (mDL) Technology Showcase, offering attendees a hands-on experience with mDL capabilities.Participants explored real-world use cases, highlighting the potential of mDLs to enhance security, privacy, and convenience in various scenarios.

Companies like Google, Samsung, oneproof, MATTR, and Credence ID demonstrated applications ranging from streamlining airport security and retail age verification to enabling seamless digital payments. The showcase underscored the growing momentum behind mDL adoption in the United States. For instance, imagine a future where TSA agents can quickly and securely verify your identity using an mDL on your smartphone, reducing wait times and enhancing security protocols.

Currently, more than half of U.S. states are either offering interoperable mDLs or actively working towards their implementation. california,for example,has issued 1.7 million digital credentials since its August mDL launch and has developed open-source tools to expand accessibility.

However, experts also addressed potential challenges to widespread mDL adoption during the Summit’s “Treading the Delicate mDL Ecosystem” session. The American Association for Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) emphasized the critical need for a framework built on trust, privacy, respect, and reliability to encourage broad acceptance. Efforts are underway to update model legislation and develop new training modules to help states and organizations better understand and vet digital credentials.

the “Interoperability to Drive Adoption of mDL” fireside chat further reinforced the importance of ensuring that mDLs function seamlessly across state lines and even internationally, mirroring the functionality of physical driver’s licenses. This interoperability is crucial for common use cases such as self-checkout for age-restricted purchases, ensuring that an mDL issued in California is accepted in New York.

Here’s a summary of mDL benefits and challenges:

Tap-to-Phone and Digital wallets: The Future of Payments

The Summit also delved into the transformative potential of tap-to-phone technology and digital wallets, exploring how these innovations are reshaping the way businesses and consumers interact. The Tap to Phone panel, featuring industry leaders from Visa, Google, IDEMIA, Giesecke+Devrient, and the NFC Forum, highlighted the rapid evolution of NFC-based mobile solutions.

Tap-to-phone technology empowers smartphones to function as payment terminals, eliminating the need for conventional point-of-sale (POS) hardware.This technology holds immense potential for small businesses and mobile vendors, enabling them to accept payments anywhere with just a smartphone.

Experts explored broader applications beyond traditional payments, including:

• Tap-to-activate: Instantly activate newly issued payment cards by tapping them against a phone, eliminating the need for phone calls to the bank.
• Tap-to-provision: Securely add payment cards or IoT devices to digital wallets by tapping them on a phone,streamlining the onboarding process. This could simplify connecting new smart home devices to your network.
• Tap-to-authenticate: Add a new layer of security for high-risk transactions, such as confirming wire transfers or verifying card-on-file for online purchases.

For SoftPOS payment use cases, industry leaders emphasized that PCI standards, acquirer certifications, and fraud-prevention measures are in place to mitigate risks and ensure secure transactions. For instance, retailers can leverage real-time fraud detection systems to monitor transactions and prevent unauthorized access to customer data.

Digital wallets are also experiencing significant advancements. Ongoing work in W3C’s Digital Credentials API (DC API) and OpenID4VP aims to improve credential selection and secure authentication. Companies like Apple and Google are driving innovations that enable seamless cross-device payment experiences while maintaining security through phishing-resistant mechanisms.

The ability to present multiple credentials—such as payment and age verification—within a single transaction is poised to further streamline digital commerce. Imagine purchasing alcohol online and verifying your age and payment details simultaneously with a single tap.

Looking ahead, the integration of digital payment credentials within wallets could enhance both convenience and privacy, notably in regions like the EU, where regulatory frameworks are evolving to support secure authentication for payments.These developments signal a future where tap-to-phone and digital wallet technologies become ubiquitous, offering a more frictionless and flexible payment ecosystem.

Transit Security and Service Quality

The Summit addressed the intersection of security and efficiency in public transportation as well. The discussion revolved around how data-driven strategies can improve transit systems. By leveraging data analytics and proactive measures, transit agencies can move beyond reactive enforcement and toward proactive, data-driven strategies that improve both security and service quality.

Join the Alliance

Organizations, associations, government agencies, and individuals interested in participating in upcoming Alliance projects and events, such as the Identity & Payments Summit, are encouraged to visit the Secure Technology Alliance’s website to learn how to become a member. By joining the Alliance, members gain access to activities within its affiliated U.S. Payments Forum and Identity and Access Forum.

For continuing updates on the Secure Technology Alliance, visit the institution’s LinkedIn page.