Mexico has approved a new plan to completely digitize its current CURP citizen identification system, when last month legislators passed an updated version of its previously optional biometric database.
The system, known as Unique Population Registry Code, Clave Única de Registro de Población, or CURP for short, is an 18-character personal identifier, similar to a social security number, but now includes several biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, iris scans, a photo, and a QR code for more secure identification purposes.
The plan has received pushback from libertarian activists and citizens wary of government expansion over concerns for privacy rights and growing suspicions of mass government surveillance systems amid frightening advancements in A.I. technology.
Mexico first issued its CURP program in 1996, barring the biometric features, and was encouraged for use in tax filings, company records, school records, passport applications, and other government services, according to Biometric Update. The biometric version of the CURP has been rolled out for public application since the beginning of 2025, with the system expected to be introduced to the general public by April of 2026.
Civil liberties groups, like Article 19, have expressed concern over the measure and how the system could be applied to military/intelligence use in coordination with the Mexican government. Privacy rights and data security concerns are now threatened as, according to the new law, authorities are not required to inform citizens when their data is being viewed or accessed.
The decree also allows Mexico’s national security agencies, such as the National Intelligence Centre and the National Guard, to be among the government bodies that will gain access to the biometric data.
