The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) today announced the launch of Track 3 of the Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration (RIVTD), in which remote identity validation systems will showcase their ability to differentiate between real users and attackers attempting to impersonate other users.
The RIVTD is a tech challenge that tests industry on its ability to deliver secure, accurate, and easy-to-use remote identity validation technologies. The challenge is held in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Homeland Security Investigations Forensic Laboratory, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
“Since announcing the Remote Identity Technology Validation Tech Demo, we have garnered a tremendous response from diverse stakeholders,” Arun Vemury, S&T’s senior engineering advisor for identity technologies, said in a statement. “The emergence of new, powerful, widely accessible technologies underscores the importance of facilitating the development and evaluation of tools to combat fraud.”
Through the challenge, DHS S&T hopes to combat identity fraud when users apply for government services, open bank accounts, or verify social media accounts.
Track 1 of the RIVTD focused on authenticating identity documents such as U.S. state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards. Track 2 focused on fraud detection, evaluating the ability of software to match a selfie photo to the photo on the identity document. Both Tracks 1 and 2 are closed for applications.
DHS S&T said the results of each track will help to inform new standards, test protocols, and requirements for U.S. agencies and other partners.
“As remote ID validation technologies become more prevalent, liveness/presentation attack detection of bad actors or impersonators will be a critical component of remote, self-enrollment of an individual’s digital identity,” said TSA Identity Capability Manager, Jason Lim. “TSA is excited to continue partnering with S&T in this area and completing an independent assessment in the future that provides an objective baseline of performance across the vendor community.”
Applications for Track 3 are due by Feb. 29, 2024, to rivtd@mdtf.org. Interested applicants can find out more information on the challenge through the DHS S&T website.
