Tech Industry's Envisaged Secure Passwordless Era: Plans by Tech Firms
In the digital age, the need for secure, frictionless, and privacy-focused biometric solutions has never been more pressing. As cyber threats continue to escalate, traditional passwords are proving to be outdated and dangerous. This realization has led to a significant call for seamless, secure, and passwordless authentication, a call that has reached a tipping point.
authID, a leading provider of privacy-first biometric identity authentication solutions, is at the forefront of this movement. Recognizing the importance of collective accountability, authID collaborates with esteemed organizations such as the Secure Technology Alliance (STA) and the Accountable Digital Identity Association (ADIA) to develop a globally coherent identity framework.
The development of such a framework is crucial, as without interoperable frameworks, industry alignment, and enforceable standards, biometric authentication may not solve the problems of the password era. Major organizations are ensuring FIDO Alliance compliance for their passkey implementations to enhance security and user adoption, underscoring the importance of standards in building confidence, driving adoption, and creating a level playing field in the digital identity landscape.
authID also collaborates with organizations and initiatives around the eIDAS 2.0 framework and the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet ecosystem. This collaboration aims to create globally unified identification standards that function across platforms, sectors, and borders, ensuring a seamless digital identity experience regardless of location.
However, the standardization of digital identity must not only focus on technology. It must center equity and accessibility to avoid reinforcing existing inequalities in access to digital services. The standards for digital identity should remain adaptable and transparent to account for AI-driven attacks, deepfake impersonations, and emerging vulnerabilities.
True progress in the digital identity landscape requires alignment around clear privacy-preserving protocols that meet the needs of both consumers and enterprises. Identity companies working in silos can impede technological compatibility and interoperability, leading to user experience issues, security gaps, and loss of trust in tools.
Collaboration among peers in payments, identity, IoT, crypto, mobile, and beyond is needed to shape the infrastructure of a passwordless world. By working together, we can ensure shared security in the digital identity landscape, fostering trust and confidence in the technologies that underpin our online lives.
As the number of data breaches continues to rise—with over 1.35 billion notices sent regarding compromised data in 2024 alone—the need for globally recognized, industry-endorsed standards is urgent. The Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives, underscores the importance of this collaboration. Together, we can build a more secure, equitable, and accessible digital future.
