IDEMIA facts for kids
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| SAS | |
| Industry | Security, Identity management, Criminal justice, Border control, Banking, Telecoms, Access control, Public safety, Smart card |
| Headquarters | Courbevoie, Île-de-France, France |
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Key people
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Pierre Barrial (CEO) |
| Products | Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems, Facial recognition system, Iris recognition, Finger vein recognition, Biometric terminals, e-gates, ID cards, ePassports, payment card, SIM cards, Biometric Card Readers Speed cameras |
| Revenue | €2,9 billion (2023) |
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Number of employees
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15,000 |
IDEMIA is a French technology company. It is based in Courbevoie, France. The company provides security services related to identity. It also sells products and software for facial recognition and other ways to identify people using biometrics. These products are used by both private companies and governments.
Contents
Company History
How Morpho Started
Morpho Systèmes began in 1982. It later became part of a larger company called Sagem in 1993. In 2005, a new company named Safran was formed. Sagem's security parts eventually became a separate company called Sagem Sécurité. This company was renamed Morpho in 2010. The name Morpho came from an older fingerprint identification company from the 1980s.
Morpho grew by buying other companies. In 2005, it bought ORGA Kartensysteme GmbH. In 2009, Safran bought most of GE Homeland Protection. Later, in 2011, Safran also bought L-1 Identity Solutions. Today, a big part of this is MorphoTrust USA Inc. This company has a history going back over 50 years. It was around when the first photo was added to a U.S. driver's license. In 2015, Morpho also bought a company called AirTag.
Oberthur Technologies' Journey
Oberthur Technologies was formed in 2007. It brought together different parts of Oberthur companies. These companies started from a printing business in 1842.
In 2016, Safran decided to sell its identity and security businesses. These were bought by Advent International, which owned Oberthur Technologies. The deal was completed in May 2017. This is when Oberthur Technologies (OT) and Safran Identity & Security (Morpho) joined together. They first called themselves OT-Morpho. Later, on September 28, they changed their name to IDEMIA.
IDEMIA Today
The new company, IDEMIA, focuses on biometric identification and security. It also works on secure payment methods. The goal was to combine technologies from the public sector (from Morpho) and the private sector (from Oberthur Technologies).
Pierre Barrial became the President and CEO of IDEMIA on July 1, 2020.
IDEMIA has created special bank cards. On these cards, you can use your fingerprint instead of a PIN code. This makes contactless payments more secure. The fingerprint check happens right on the card. No fingerprint information is sent to the store or the bank.
The company also offers biometric terminals. These devices use facial recognition or fingerprints. They help companies control who enters buildings. This makes entry both secure and hygienic.
In July 2025, IDEMIA announced a new library of cryptographic algorithms. These are like secret codes that keep information safe.
What IDEMIA Does
Identity Solutions
IDEMIA's main business is developing the newest technologies for biometrics. Biometrics use unique body features, like fingerprints or faces, to identify people.
IDEMIA's facial recognition technology helps people move smoothly through places like airports or stadium entrances. It can also help spot people who are not allowed in stadiums. It can even help check identities in special areas. IDEMIA works with police and governments around the world. For example, in India, they helped with the Aadhaar project. This project gives a unique 12-digit number to each Indian citizen. To get this number, people provide their biometric data, like iris scans and fingerprints. This helps them open bank accounts and get social benefits.
In 2020, IDEMIA produced 3 billion identity documents worldwide. These include passports, ID cards, and driving licenses. IDEMIA also helps the United Nations. They work to give everyone an identity by 2030. This is important in places like Africa and India, where many people do not have official identification.
Border Control
IDEMIA is an expert in airport border solutions. They use biometrics like fingerprints, facial recognition, and iris scans. Their solutions help match a person's biometrics to their identity document. One example is their ID2Travel solution.
Singapore's Changi Airport uses IDEMIA's biometric services. These services identify and check travelers as they go through the airport. These services are also used at Seletar airport in Singapore. They are being used in other parts of Asia too.
Banking Technology
IDEMIA creates solutions to make payment cards better. They research new ideas, like putting fingerprint recognition into a thin payment card. They can also make custom cards for banks. Some of their cards are even made from recycled plastic.
IDEMIA in the United States
IDEMIA provides products to many government groups in the United States. They are a top provider of driver's licenses.
IDEMIA owns a company called IdentoGO. IdentoGO has many locations across the U.S. They offer electronic fingerprinting and other identity services. IdentoGO is approved by the U.S. federal government. They help with programs like TSA PreCheck. This program helps travelers get through airport security faster.
IDEMIA's facial analysis technology is also used in different parts of the United States:
- In Florida, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has used IDEMIA's software since 2001. It helps them compare and examine faces.
- In Massachusetts, the Registry of Motor Vehicles has used IDEMIA's face recognition technology since 2006. It helps them check driver's license photos.
- In Arizona, the Department of Transportation started using a mobile ID app with IDEMIA in 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Morpho (empresa) para niños
