Biometrics Institute Congress gathers global experts to reap benefits of biometrics in identity management responsibly
The Biometrics Institute’s annual Congress is set to convene leading experts from the global biometrics community in London on 15-16 October 2025. This year’s event will focus on the escalation of synthetic media, and the balance and proportionality needed to harness the potential of AI-powered biometrics while mitigating risks and advancing the responsible use of biometrics across the entire sector.
The threat of deepfakes remains a critical concern. As highlighted in the Biometrics Institute’s recent Annual Industry Survey, an overwhelming 85% of members agreed that deepfakes will continue to pose a significant threat to biometric recognition systems. The Congress will directly address this consensus, continuing the discussion on the relationship between biometrics and artificial intelligence (AI), a subject the Institute previously addressed in its Members’ Viewpoint paper. Sessions will also be dedicated to discerning what is and isn’t real.
Harnessing innovation, mitigating risk
While the community faces challenges like deepfakes and presentation attacks, the Congress will also highlight the many positive use cases and innovative ways the sector is benefiting from AI-powered solutions. Experts from 27 countries are expected to attend, representing government, industry, and academia, to engage in a necessary dialogue on how to secure identity systems for the future.
The comprehensive two-day agenda features key themes including:
- The State of Biometrics
- Safeguarding biometrics – a balancing act
- Biometrics now and in the future
- ID@Borders and movement of people
- Research, innovation and biometrics futures
- Building confidence and trust in (digital) identity
- Lessons on fakes, spoofs and morphs
- Identity management around the world
- Seamless travel – a need for collaboration
- Mystery session
- What does the future hold? Do we need a “kill switch”?
Focus on risk-based regulation
A key component of the “Safeguarding biometrics – a balancing act” session will be a detailed discussion on trends and challenges in regulating data about the body. This discussion will specifically explore how risks vary depending on how data about the body is used; identify what kinds of low-risk, beneficial technologies laws, regulations and policies should enable; discuss how to implement a risk-based approach; and evaluate whether the current trends in biometrics laws, regulations and policy follow this risk-based approach.
The Congress provides a unique platform for the biometrics community to collaborate on international best practices, ethical guidelines, and technical standards necessary to ensure a trustworthy and responsible deployment of biometric technology worldwide. The entire event is held under Chatham House Rule to ensure rich, balanced, and candid discussions among attendees that are not heard elsewhere.
Industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers are encouraged to register their attendance and join in the conversations shaping the future of responsible biometrics. Click here to view the event page and register.
Event details
What: Biometrics Institute Congress and side events
When: 15-16 October 2025
Where: London, UK
ENDS.
About the Biometrics Institute:
The Biometrics Institute is the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties. It was established in 2001 to promote the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics. It has offices in London and Sydney.
The Institute represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community of over 200 membership organisations from 43 countries. While a large proportion of the members are from government, other members include banks, airlines, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics and 18 Observers representing United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institution.
The Biometrics Institute connects the global biometrics community. It shares knowledge with its members and key stakeholders and most importantly, develops good practices and thought leadership for the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics.
For more information, please email Marco Lombardi.
