Mastercard has revealed plans to broaden its Identity Attribute Verification service by using card data to authenticate identities.
Targeting select countries across Europe to begin with, Mastercard has said that issuers will soon be able to confirm cardholders’ additional attributes, such as their age, date of birth or address.
In a blog post by Dennis Gamiello, EVP of Identity at Mastercard, the company wants to make sure that a customer’s card “is enough”, removing the need to prove identity when purchasing goods or services online.
Gamiello wrote: “Using the technology behind a payment card, our solutions will allow our partners to seamlessly verify that a consumer meets the criteria for certain goods and services while protecting their privacy. Doing so eliminates the often cumbersome task of uploading documents like photo ID, proof of residency or passport.”
Mastercard has emphasised its standing on user privacy as a fundamental aspect of its operations in this area, stating that its Privacy by Design culture ensures that it uses only the essential data that consumers have consented to share for verification purposes.
While the initial rollout will focus on specific (yet-to-be-confirmed) countries in Europe, the company has announced intentions for further expansion in 2025.
Digital ID was a key topic at the recent Payment Expert Summit. A panel discussed the upcoming digital ID framework in the European Union (EU), which aims to create a digital wallet that gives all EU citizens access to a secure and unified digital ID by 2030.
As Gamiello noted in his blog, the panel highlighted that although technology has advanced significantly, the process of identification has not kept pace. This gap has led to speed issues, which digital payments aim to overcome compared to traditional methods.
While this particular panel focused on how digital IDs could improve onboarding for gambling operators, one panellist noted that if major state-owned banks and institutions adopt the digital ID framework, the implementation would be “quite easy.” Conversely, if only gambling companies participate, it may take much longer to gain widespread acceptance.