Identity proofing is the process of verifying that a person is who they claim to be during onboarding — before issuing credentials. It establishes the initial trustworthiness of a new identity in the system.
⚙️ How Does It Work?
Methods range from in-person document verification to digital identity verification using government IDs, facial biometrics, knowledge-based authentication, or third-party identity verification services (Jumio, Persona, Onfido).
📍 Where Is It Used?
Financial services (KYC requirements), government services, healthcare patient onboarding, high-assurance enterprise account creation.
💡 Real-World Example
A UK bank onboards new customers digitally. Applicants take a selfie and scan their passport. An AI-powered identity verification service confirms the document is genuine, matches the selfie to the passport photo, and checks against fraud databases — all in 60 seconds. Account created with high identity assurance.
🔗 Related Terms
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