ID.me

ID.me was founded in early 2010 by Blake Hall and Matt Thompson as TroopSwap, a daily deal website similar to Groupon and LivingSocial with a focus on the American military community.{{Cite news |last=Gregg |first=Aaron |date=March 8, 2017 |title=This D.C. start-up is taking on some giant tech companies in the race to simplify sign-ons |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-business/wp/2017/03/08/this-d-c-start-up-is-taking-on-some-giant-tech-companies-in-the-race-to-simplify-sign-ons |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308135741/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-business/wp/2017/03/08/this-d-c-start-up-is-taking-on-some-giant-tech-companies-in-the-race-to-simplify-sign-ons/ |archive-date=March 8, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |last=Overly |first=Steven |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Tysons Corner-based ID.me expands online identification network |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/tysons-corner-based-idme-expands-online-identification-network/2013/07/12/6707bf00-e8d2-11e2-8f22-de4bd2a2bd39_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716042357/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/tysons-corner-based-idme-expands-online-identification-network/2013/07/12/6707bf00-e8d2-11e2-8f22-de4bd2a2bd39_story.html |archive-date=July 16, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} The company evolved into Troop ID, which provided digital identity verification for military personnel and veterans. Troop ID allowed service members and veterans to access online benefits from retailers, such as military discounts, as well as government agencies like the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.{{Cite news |last=Feinstein, Gregory |date=March 17, 2013 |title=Military Verification Service, Troop ID, Raises 2.1 Million |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/17/military-id-verification-service-troop-id-raises-2-1-million/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308135741/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-business/wp/2017/03/08/this-d-c-start-up-is-taking-on-some-giant-tech-companies-in-the-race-to-simplify-sign-ons |archive-date=March 8, 2017 |work=TechCrunch}}

In 2013, the company rebranded again as ID.me with the goal of providing a ubiquitous secure identity verification network. To that end, they expanded to include verification of credentials for first responders, nurses, and students for discounts. In 2013, ID.me was awarded a two-year grant by the United States Chamber of Commerce to participate in the President's National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC), a pilot project intended to help develop secure digital identification methods.{{Cite web |title=NSTIC, ID.me, Inc. |url=https://www.nist.gov/nstic/id-inc.html |access-date=February 21, 2015 |website=www.nist.gov |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology}}

In late 2014, ID.me won a contract with the General Services Administration to provide digital identity credentials with Connect.gov. Co-founder Matt Thompson left the company in 2015. In March 2017, ID.me received $19 million in its Series B funding round. In 2018, ID.me became the first digital identity provider to be certified by the Kantara Initiative at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) IAL2 level.{{Cite press release |title=ID.me Becomes First Identity Provider to Be Approved as NIST 800-63-3 Conformant |date=August 16, 2018 |publisher=Kantara Initiative |url=https://kantarainitiative.org/id-me-becomes-first-identity-provider-to-be-approved-as-nist-800-63-3-conformant/ |language=en-US |access-date=March 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614225301/https://kantarainitiative.org/id-me-becomes-first-identity-provider-to-be-approved-as-nist-800-63-3-conformant/ |archive-date=June 14, 2019}}

In 2019, ID.me signed a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer “virtual in-person identity proofing”, allowing veterans to verify their identity with the VA via video call.{{Cite web |last=Medici |first=Andy |title=Identity startup ID.me sees explosive growth, plans to hire 1,000 workers |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/11/19/idme-startup-hire-tysons-1000-workers.html |access-date=March 11, 2021 |website=www.bizjournals.com}} ID.me also signed a contract with the Social Security Administration for single sign-on, identity management, and multifactor authentication in 2020.{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2020 |title=SSA inks 5-year contract for ID.me SSO Solution Annual Software Licenses and Support task |url=https://etc.g2xchange.com/statics/ssa-inks-5-year-contract-for-id-me-sso-solution-annual-software-licenses-and-support-task/ |access-date=March 11, 2021 |website=G2Xchange FedCiv |language=en-US}} ID.me also began work with the state of California in 2019 to provide REAL ID document pre-screening for DMVs. Listed partners for discounts on ID.me’s website also include Under Armour, Apple, and Lenovo.{{Cite web |title=Ecommerce: Verify Eligibility for Exclusive Discounts |url=https://www.id.me/business/ecommerce |access-date=March 11, 2021 |website=ID.me |language=en}}

In the wake of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 27 states contracted with ID.me to verify the identities of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants, as required by federal law and the U.S. Department of Labor.{{Cite web |last=Dave |first=Paresh |date=July 22, 2021 |title=Factbox: States using ID.me, rival identity check tools for jobless claims |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/states-using-idme-rival-identity-check-tools-jobless-claims-2021-07-22/ |access-date=December 2, 2022 |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2020 |title=UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER No. 28-20 |url=https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/advisories/unemployment-insurance-program-letter-no-28-20 |access-date=December 2, 2022 |website=U.S. Department of Labor}}

In late 2020, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) notified 1.4 million accounts that the EDD suspected were fraudulent that their benefits would be suspended in 30 days unless they were verified by ID.me.{{Cite news |last=Said |first=Carolyn |date=January 16, 2021 |title=California EDD's mass suspension of accounts hangs over jobless |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=Hearst Communications |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/California-EDD-s-mass-suspension-of-accounts-15875464.php }} News coverage at that time focused on legitimately unemployed individuals who complained that it took as long as two to three days to speak with a referee or that the EDD did not resume benefits even after they completed the ID.me verification process.{{Cite news |last=Watts |first=Julie |date=December 28, 2020 |title=CBS13 Investigates EDD Backlog – Getting Answers From ID.me |work=KOVR |url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2020/12/28/edd-unemployment-backlog-id-me/ }}{{Cite news |last1=Finney |first1=Michael |last2=Koury |first2=Renee |date=January 13, 2021 |title=EDD demands 1.4 million jobless prove their identity or lose benefits; ID verification isn't easy |work=KGO-TV |url=https://abc7news.com/california-edd-freezes-pay-unemployment-benefits-frozen-ca-covid-19/9627403/ }}{{Cite news |last1=Finney |first1=Michael |last2=Koury |first2=Renee |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Massive EDD delays threaten unemployment pay for thousands in California |work=KGO-TV |url=https://abc7news.com/edd-suspended-certify-by-phone-fraudulent-activity-idme-for/9883704/ }}

In November 2021, the Internal Revenue Service announced plans to replace their current log-in systems with a third-party verification system, along with replacing their old log-in system with ID.me by mid-2022.{{Cite press release |title=IRS unveils new online identity verification process for accessing self-help tools |date=November 17, 2021 |publisher=Internal Revenue Service |url=https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-unveils-new-online-identity-verification-process-for-accessing-self-help-tools}} However, researchers raised concerns about lack of evidence of accuracy, false negatives which prevent dark-skinned or transgender people from accessing their own information, false positives which let third parties impersonate a taxpayer to access tax information, and citizens' right to refuse to give their biometric information to the government and its contractors.{{Cite magazine |last=Buolamwini |first=Joy |date=January 27, 2022 |title=The IRS Should Stop Using Facial Recognition |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/01/irs-should-stop-using-facial-recognition/621386/ |magazine=The Atlantic |language=en |access-date=January 30, 2022}} On January 28, 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury, the parent agency of the IRS, announced that it may consider alternatives due to privacy concerns.{{Cite news |last=Lawder |first=David |date=January 28, 2022 |title=U.S. Treasury weighs alternatives to ID.me after privacy concerns raised |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-treasury-weighs-alternatives-idme-after-privacy-concerns-raised-2022-01-29/ |access-date=January 30, 2022}}

The IRS has not abandoned plans to use ID.me, but has instead made changes to how users are verified.{{Cite news |last=Rappeport |first=Alan |date=February 7, 2022 |title=I.R.S. to End Use of Facial Recognition for Identity Verification |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/us/politics/irs-idme-facial-recognition.html |access-date=February 7, 2022}} On February 21, 2022, the IRS announced that a new option in the agency's authentication system, referring to ID.me, was available for taxpayers to sign up for IRS online accounts without the use of any biometric data, including facial recognition. This was consistent with the IRS's commitment earlier to transition away from the requirement for taxpayers creating an IRS online account to provide a selfie to a third-party service to help authenticate their identity. Taxpayers also had the option of verifying their identity during a live, virtual interview with agents; no biometric data – including facial recognition – was required if taxpayers chose to authenticate their identity through a virtual interview. IRS users still had the option to verify their identity automatically through the use of biometric verification through ID.me's self-assistance tool if they chose. For taxpayers who selected this option, new requirements were in place to ensure images provided by taxpayers are deleted for the account being created. Any existing biometric data from taxpayers who previously created an online account on IRS.gov that has already been collected will also be permanently deleted within a few weeks. It was stated that while this short-term solution is in place for this year's filing season, the IRS will work closely with partners across government to roll out Login.gov as an authentication tool. The General Services Administration was said to be working with the IRS to achieve the security standards and scale required of Login.gov, with the goal of moving toward introducing this option after the 2022 filing deadline.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2022 |title=IRS Statement — New features put in place for IRS Online Account registration; process strengthened to ensure privacy and security {{!}} Internal Revenue Service |url=https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-statement-new-features-put-in-place-for-irs-online-account-registration-process-strengthened-to-ensure-privacy-and-security |access-date=June 13, 2022 |website=www.irs.gov |language=en}} {{PD-notice}}

ID.me offers numerous identity verification products, supplied by third parties. For "high-assurance" identity verification, the company verifies personal data, including drivers' licenses, passports, and social security numbers.{{Cite web |title=How do I verify my identity? |url=https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/360017922513-How-do-I-verify-my-identity- |access-date=February 28, 2021 |website=ID.me Support |language=en-US}} Users must also take a video selfie with their phones, using the ID.me photo app. If ID.me fails to verify users through this information, users are directed to talk to a "Trusted Referee" video call.{{Cite web |title=ID.me Support |url=https://help.id.me/hc/en-us |access-date=March 11, 2021 |website=help.id.me |language=en-US}} ID.me users have expressed frustration due to long delays on its video call line.

As part of its identification system, the company collects a wide range of personal information, including photographs and identification documents.{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2019 |title=Privacy Policy version 6.0.0 |url=https://www.id.me/privacy |access-date=January 24, 2020 |website=ID.me}} The company verifies information by sending it to a number of "government agencies, telecommunications networks, financial institutions" and other companies which the company trusts and considers reliable. The company treats Internet Protocol addresses and unique device identifiers as non-personally identifiable, and releases them to third parties, along with location, occupation, language, the list of pages browsed at ID.me, and the URLs visited before and after using ID.me.

ID.me is one of three companies, along with USAA and Zentry, certified to Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) Level of Assurance 3.{{Cite web |title=Trust Services |url=https://www.idmanagement.gov/buy/trust-services/ |access-date=January 24, 2020 |website=ID Management.gov |language=en-US}} ID.me's privacy policy states that users must consent before any information is shared with third-party sources. However, its policy also states that "by utilizing your ID.me Account at Third-Party Websites, you are expressly authorizing [ID.me] to share certain Personally Identifiable Information or Sensitive Information tied to your ID.me Account with such Third-Party Websites."{{Cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://www.id.me/privacy |access-date=March 11, 2021 |website=ID.me |language=en}}

ID.me said in a press release that their products use one-to-one facial recognition technology that matches a photo taken from an individual to a Government ID.{{Cite press release |title=ID.me Comments on Adherence to Federal Rules on Facial Recognition "Selfies" that Protect Identities from Theft |date=January 24, 2022 |publisher=ID.me |url=https://insights.id.me/press-releases/id-me-comments-on-adherence-to-federal-rules-on-facial-recognition-selfies-that-protect-identities-from-theft/}} Co-founder and CEO Blake Hall also confirmed the one-time use of one-to-many facial recognition, which matches an image against a database of other faces, to identify people who are known for committing fraud. This information has sparked concerns from privacy activists and organizations. It also led to concerns about people with limited access to technology that they are required to use a third-party company to access the services that they can use.{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=2022-01-20 |title=The IRS will soon make you use facial recognition to access your taxes online |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/20/22893057/irs-facial-recognition-taxes-online-idme-identity |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} In an interview with Axios, Hall has defended its practices, citing that the company is working to make its service both equitable and available.{{Cite news |last=Fried |first=Ina |date=January 24, 2022 |title=IRS face recognition program raises hackles |work=Axios |url=https://www.axios.com/irs-face-recognition-hackles-id-me-0235a30d-8066-4664-82b2-383313bd1962.html}}{{Cite news |last=Riley |first=Tonya |date=January 26, 2022 |title=ID.me CEO backtracks on claims company doesn't use powerful facial recognition tech |work=Cyber Scoop |publisher=Scoop News Group |url=https://www.cyberscoop.com/id-me-ceo-backtracks-on-claims-company-doesnt-use-powerful-facial-recognition-tech/}}

• National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace
• Login.gov

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• {{official website}}

Category:Veterans' affairs in the United States

Category:Identity management

Category:2010 establishments in Virginia

Category:Companies based in McLean, Virginia

Category:Privately held companies based in Virginia