A cluster of regulatory moves across four continents is accelerating the integration of biometric identity verification into core state and commercial services. In Russia, the government’s digital services portal Gosuslugi will from July add a biometric confirmation option for online property registration, using the national Unified Biometric System. Indonesia has made facial recognition mandatory for all new prepaid SIM card activations, with the regulation taking effect on 1 July 2026. Mexico’s telecommunications regulator, meanwhile, has revised its mobile line identification rules to incorporate a liveness test during in-person registration and to stagger the deactivation of unlinked numbers through December. The United States has finalised a rule requiring certain foreign nationals to register and submit biometrics via a new online system, locking in interim measures that have been in force since April 2025.

Viewed from Moscow, the Russian initiative is presented by the office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko as a dual-purpose tool: it simplifies remote property transactions while adding a layer of protection for parties to a deal. Biometric confirmation is positioned as an alternative to qualified electronic signatures, with the government emphasising that citizens may still choose in-person procedures. The biometric data, stored encrypted and segregated from other personal information, is managed by the state-owned Centre for Biometric Technologies. In Indonesia, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs frames the SIM card measure as a strategic step to reduce anonymity-driven cybercrime. Minister Meutya Hafid has stated that verified identities will allow operators to deliver better services, while the government assures that biometric data is not retained by either operators or the ministry, with systems certified to ISO 27001 and liveness detection standards.

In Mexico, the Federal Telecommunications Commission (CRT) justified its amendments by warning that a simultaneous mass disconnection of unregistered lines could overload signalling networks. The new phased schedule, based on the last digit of the phone number, runs from August to December. The addition of a liveness test during in-person registration is intended to confirm that the person presenting an identity document is its genuine holder. The CRT also expanded the list of accepted identification documents for foreign nationals and removed obstacles to the number unlinking process, such as the requirement to enter a full phone number. In Washington, the Department of Homeland Security’s final rule stabilises a registration and biometrics collection system for foreign nationals who lack standard immigration records, including those who entered without inspection and visa-exempt Canadian citizens arriving by land. The rule does not create new obligations but formalises the existing process and invites public comment on further regulatory changes until 28 August 2026.

These parallel developments reflect a broader push by states to anchor digital identity in biometric credentials, often linking them to national population databases. In Indonesia, the face scan is matched against the civil registry (Dukcapil); in Russia, the Unified Biometric System serves as the backbone for over 20 services, from contactless payments to passport-free access at multifunctional centres. The Mexican platform connects mobile numbers to a centralised management system. While governments stress security and convenience, the measures also raise operational questions about the readiness of telecom and immigration infrastructure to handle biometric enrolment at scale. Indonesia’s operators, including Telkomsel, XLSmart and Indosat, have completed system adjustments, and the government is encouraging existing subscribers to voluntarily re-register. In Russia, the biometric option for property deals is an addition to an already functioning service, with no obligation to use it. The US system, accessible via Form G-325R, exempts those who already hold a valid visa, work permit or green card. The next concrete steps include the phased deactivation of unlinked lines in Mexico starting 15 August and the US comment period closing at the end of August.