MyDigital ID to see enhanced security features with facial biometric verification upgrades

The Government is rolling out new security measures for MyDigital ID, including real-time facial biometric checks and periodic re-verification, as concerns over online fraud, identity theft, and cyber threats continue to grow.

The Malaysia Government has said that it is continuing efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s digital identity ecosystem as part of its broader national security agenda and push to build a safer and more trusted digital environment.

In a media statement on Friday (12 June 2026), the National Security Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara), under the Prime Minister’s Department (Jabatan Perdana Menteri) said agencies across the Government are taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity and digital identity protection, which are becoming increasingly important in the digital era.

The council noted that as more citizens, businesses, and government agencies rely on digital services, the need to protect digital identities has become more critical.

It added that threats such as online fraud, identity theft, data theft and cyber exploitation have highlighted the need for stronger and more proactive security measures to maintain public trust in the country’s digital ecosystem.

Against this backdrop, MyDigital ID has been positioned as a key part of Malaysia’s digital identity ecosystem, functioning as a platform for more secure and reliable identity verification across public and private sector digital services.

As part of initial efforts to strengthen the system further, the Government will introduce a new round of security upgrades for the MyDigital ID platform.

One of the measures includes improvements to the MyDigital ID kiosk registration system, through the introduction of an additional security layer that enables real-time facial biometric verification with the National Registration Department (JPN) database during the registration process.

According to the statement, the move is aimed at strengthening the accuracy of identity verification while reducing the risk of identity misuse and unauthorised access.

Existing MyDigital ID users will also be notified to complete periodic facial biometric re-verification as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the integrity and security of digital identities continue to be maintained.

The security enhancements will be implemented in stages and gradually expanded to all MyDigital ID kiosks nationwide.

To facilitate the updates, maintenance works for MyDigital ID kiosks are scheduled to take place from 12 June at 6am until 14 June at 6am.

During this period, users can still register for MyDigital ID through their mobile phones by downloading the application via the App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery and completing the registration process online.

MKN said the latest upgrades mark the beginning of broader and more comprehensive efforts to strengthen the country’s digital identity ecosystem.

Moving forward, MKN said it will continue working closely with relevant agencies to coordinate security enhancement measures across identity and identity verification platforms, including MyKad, to help ensure Malaysians’ digital identities remain protected.

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