Global Scans · Biometrics · Weekly Summary

• [New] The UK government has kicked off plans to ramp up police use of facial recognition, undeterred by a mounting civil liberties backlash and fresh warnings that any expansion risks turning public spaces into biometric dragnets. The Register
• [New] Regulatory Crackdowns - Global scrutiny over biometric data could stall growth. CoinMarketCap
• [New] By 2025, advancements in 3D mapping, computer vision, and semantic understanding will allow devices to not just see surfaces but comprehend them. INAIRSPACE
• The United States will soon require photographs of every traveler entering and leaving the country who is not a U.S. citizen, under a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule expanding biometric data collection at airports, land borders, and seaports. Boundless Immigration
• The Commission on Seamless and Secure Travel recommended completing biometric air exit by 2026 to strengthen identity verification and create a more secure and efficient travel system. U.S. Travel Association
• Visa Waiver Program flexibility: With full biometric exit in place for international air departures, visa overstay rates-rather than visa refusal rates-will become the key metric for VWP eligibility, unlocking the potential for new visa-free partner countries. U.S. Travel Association
• Over 2 billion biometric payment transactions are projected to occur globally in 2025. CoinLaw
• In 2025, as cyber threats grow more sophisticated and our lives become increasingly digital, biometric security is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Latest Cybersecurity and Hacking News For You
• By 2025, advanced security trends such as biometric systems incorporating voice recognition and HALO sensors are expected to prevail, with Gartner and IBM forecasting 50% adoption among U.S. enterprises for video security and smart door locks. HotBot
• In the coming two years, we expect to see many more novel computer vision applications make their way into the mainstream of first world police forces - with predictive policing playing an increasing role in extremely well-funded cities of advanced nations. Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research
• AI-powered surveillance, employed by both states and private actors, is one of the most pressing threats to human rights in 2025, with facial recognition technologies and biometric tracking enabling pervasive monitoring often in the absence of adequate legal oversight. Medium
• In 2025, researchers have uncovered vulnerabilities in VR hardware that allow attackers to access real-time biometric data, track user movements, and even manipulate sensory input. Artificial Intelligence and Technology Articles
• In 2026, global privacy regulations around biometric data are tightening, and organizations that do not adapt risk serious fines, lawsuits and reputational damage. Keyless
• Microsoft's feature on AI trends predicts widespread adoption in 2025, with innovations like enhanced computer vision in healthcare diagnostics. WebProNews
• The UK government announced mandatory digital ID cards by 2029, marking a global shift toward biometric and digital identity verification systems. VisaPics
• Mastercard is accelerating its push to make online shopping across Asia-Pacific password-free and number-free by 2030, with a regional roadmap targeting full tokenization and biometric authentication in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam by 2027. philstar.com
• Combining the USCIS and CBP frameworks could effectively produce a unified biometric tracking system encompassing all non-citizens in the United States. BiometricUpdate.com

Last updated: 14 December 2025