Albania Expands Biometric Infrastructure to Digital Identity

Albania has expanded the responsibilities of the state-owned company supported by ALBTraceCo, extending its previous focus on biometric document production to digital identity systems and the protection of citizens’ sensitive data, IDTechWire reported, citing a decision by the Albanian Council of Ministers. The new mandate covers the administration and development of systems designed to protect identity and biometric data, as well as blank physical biometric documents and critical state platforms and systems.

Its responsibilities now also include electronic systems related to biometric and digital identity, electronic identification, authentication, traceability, and electronic verification. ALBTraceCo is named as the provider of the capacity and high-security technology supporting these activities, while the Ministry of the Interior, the company responsible for biometric documents, and ALBTraceCo are tasked with implementing the decision. The move brings the production of physical identity documents and the digital infrastructure used to establish, authenticate, and verify identity under the same state-controlled framework.

The expanded mandate comes as Albania develops a national digital identity system for access to public and private services and invests in specialised biometric infrastructure, including fingerprint and facial recognition capabilities. The decision will take effect following publication in Albania’s Official Gazette.