Optical technologies: The image of the war on ID counterfeiting

ID documents continue to be at risk from counterfeiting but innovation in optical technologies plays a central role in the battle to protect people and revenues, says Dr Mark Deakes, chair of the new International Optical Technologies Association (IOTA).

Around the world, governments and issuing agencies lose billions of dollars annually through counterfeit documents and ID fraud. Meanwhile the cost of paying for anti-counterfeiting measures to bring criminals to justice can run into hundreds of millions of dollars. The problem has also been exacerbated by the impact of Covid in recent times, which accelerated digital transformation in every industry, accompanied by a drastic increase in fraud.

According to the Veriff Identity Fraud Report 2024, there was a 20% rise in overall fraud year-on-year from 2022 to 2023 while the Identity Fraud Landscape: 2025 to 2030 Forecasts indicate that as ID verification tech improves, fraudsters are innovating in parallel - all signs indicate that identity-related fraud and scams will continue to be a multi-billion-dollar problem in 2030, with criminal tactics growing ever more sophisticated.

Providing innovative and sophisticated solutions for security documents requires not only a design that will make a document attractive; it also means enhancing the intrinsic security of the document itself. Secure document conception can be achieved for ID cards and passports by integrating security features with exclusive designs that highlight attack attempts and facilitate controls, for example, checking that an ID document matches the bearer.

Driven by advances in materials and applications, optical technologies are seen as valued and potent, helping to secure data and preventing interference, tampering, alteration, forgery, or imitation of ID documents by criminals. For instance, technologies such as micro-lenses, micro-mirrors, colour shifting, print and diffractive technologies including holographic technologies are increasingly featuring in brand protection strategies, adapting as the demands placed on security and authentication requirements grow. Plasmonics - the science of manipulating light at the nanoscale using metallic nanostructures - is another rapidly growing field with applications in many areas, including imaging, sensing, and energy. Together with structured colour optical technologies, they are making progress as part of integrated solutions that could see a lot of traction, particularly in the competitive government ID sector.

Evolution

As countries update or introduce their national ID systems, we are seeing documents evolving and a noticeable shift is emerging, not just in digital functionality but also in the physical layout of the cards themselves. Leading this transformation are portrait-oriented identity cards, which are now receiving formal recognition under ICAO’s updated TD1 specifications. At the heart of these changes, optical security features such as holograms and optically variable inks remain critical tools in the war on fraud and piracy. In 2024, Iceland became the first country to issue a portrait-oriented ID card that fully complies with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) revised TD1 standards.

Published in September 2023, these guidelines allow national authorities to choose between horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) card layouts. The most visible change in the Icelandic ID card is the larger portrait photograph, which significantly enhances the detection of impostor fraud during in-person checks. The card includes three optical security features on the front: holograms that display dynamic 2D or 3D images that change with the angle of light; an optically variable ink feature, changing colour from green to blue, and a laser-generated optically variable image composed of horizontal lines parallel to the card’s long side. The holographic feature is embedded over the portrait to protect against photo substitution and tampering, among the most common forms of ID fraud.

Cameroon launched a new generation biometric ID card in early 2025, becoming the first nation in Africa to adopt the portrait-format ID-1 layout per ICAO guidelines. This rollout, delivered by German technology provider Augentic, is part of a 15-year identity modernisation plan led by the country’s General Delegation for National Security (DGSN). It includes about 15 overt and covert security features, such as holograms, UV (ultra violet) visible patterns and encrypted QR codes. The application also includes a biometric chip storing fingerprints, facial data, and digital signatures. Cameroon’s adoption of the vertical ID format underscores the growing appeal of this layout – especially in countries aiming to harmonise document security with digital convenience.

Greece is also at the forefront of optical technologies innovation following an announcement that it would transition to using a unique 12-digit personal identification number (PIN) on each national ID card issued to citizens. The PIN will give the holder access to all state transactions, interactions, and benefits. The PIN will be visible on the physical card and digitally embedded in its chip. PIN numbers will be retrieved from a centralised national registry maintained by the General Secretariat for Information Systems and Digital Governance, and the information will also be recorded in the Hellenic Police’s identity database.

Global reach and impact

The move follows the country’s issue of new biometric ID cards in late 2023. These cards include security features such as a DOVID (Diffractive Optical Variable Image Device), OVI, and CLI (a laser-generated optically variable image composed of vertical lines). They also contain an RFID chip that contains the bearer’s unique biometric data, including two fingerprints, a photo, and the card access number (CAN).

In South East Asia, Malaysia has been using holograms on its national identity card ( MyKad) since 2001, which over the years has been upgraded and improved with an embedded hologram on the laminated card layer and the introduction of RFID. Now JPN is working on the latest iteration of MyKad and is in the final stages of completing the new card’s structure, which is likely to be a polycarbonate identity card with a modern appearance and incorporating advanced laser engraving and holographic elements. This will replace the current card version, representing the latest embodiment of an eye-catching and groundbreaking national identity card.

The introduction of portrait-format identity cards signifies a shift in how governments approach ID design. With Iceland’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliant vertical ID launched in 2024 and Cameroon’s in 2025, the transition from landscape to portrait layouts offers a new canvas for optical security technologies. The revised ICAO TD1 specification, published in September 2023, officially facilitates this change. It provides flexibility in presenting personal data and the overall visual structure, most notably by allowing a larger portrait photo to assist with face matching and manual verification. This change also reconfigures the space available for optical security features. Some countries are already adapting their optical elements such as holograms, optically variable inks (OVI), UV features, and machine-readable elements (MLE) to align with the vertical format. This shift alters the design flow and may also change the position and function of various security layers.

Despite the rise of digital documents, physical passports continue to play a crucial role, reflecting a fundamental human need for tangible identification and symbolising national sovereignty and individual rights. However, the evolution of ePassports will see a proliferation of optical security features with the move towards multiple portraits in documents on the rise, utilising various personalisation techniques to deter forgery. These include laser engraving, lens incorporation, clear windows, perforations, and inkjet printing. While this complexity enhances security, it also poses verification challenges for border officers and increases personalisation time. Machine-only verifiable features will become more integrated, aligning with the growing prevalence of automated border controls. These advances will strike a balance between enhancing security and maintaining efficiency in verification processes.

Technology

The advent of quantum computing, which is a new way of computing that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems faster than classical computers, presents significant opportunities and challenges. By 2044, these advanced computers are expected to be capable of breaking current encryption algorithms quickly. In response, ePassports will incorporate quantum-safe algorithms, ensuring robust protection against emerging threats. These quantum-resilient security measures will safeguard personal and national security, preventing the forging of documents and the theft of biometric data with optical security features. Passports will be designed with crypto-agility, allowing for updates to cryptographic algorithms throughout the document’s lifespan. This adaptability will be facilitated either during border crossings or via smartphone apps. 

AI is set to revolutionise passport design and verification. It will enhance the development of secure embedded software and refine fraud detection mechanisms at border controls. AI’s ability to analyse and adapt to the latest forgery techniques combined with new optical technologies will enable the creation of more tamper-evident security features, ensuring passports remain ahead of counterfeiters.

As digitalisation offers both opportunities and challenges, optical security technologies will be at the forefront of pushing innovation and their role in securing ID document cannot be overstated. The integration of features not only raises the bar for counterfeiters but also serves as a testament to ID issuing authorities’ commitment to protecting the identities of their citizens. In an interconnected world, where the movement of people is constant, optical security stands as a stalwart guardian, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the documents that define our identities.

The International Optical Technologies Association is made up of the world's leading holography, micro-lens arrays, micro-mirrors, plasmonics, nano-gratings, colour change, caustics, polarisation, photonic crystals, special print-generated effects, or a combination of these manufacturers, suppliers and convertors. These technologies are used in a wide range of banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world. Member companies actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards.