As federal lawmakers increasingly turn their attention to identity technologies — spanning digital identity verification, biometric systems, artificial intelligence, and data privacy — the gap between regulatory intent and technological reality grows wider. At the same time, policymakers are advancing proposals at the federal and state/local level that will directly impact how companies design, deploy, and scale these technologies.

This panel examines how well-meaning legislation, crafted without substantive input from identity technology practitioners at the outset, risks stifling innovation, creating compliance frameworks incompatible with technical architectures, and introducing new security vulnerabilities and other unforeseen issues. Panelists will explore real-world examples of regulatory overreach and misaligned mandates, discuss what meaningful expert consultation looks like in the legislative process, and propose frameworks for bridging the knowledge divide between policymakers and the identity ecosystem. The discussion will also touch on the evolving federal policy landscape and the budget and reconciliation process, which is expected to direct significant funding toward homeland security and identity-related technologies, with direct implications for companies navigating compliance and seeking to partner with the U.S. government. 

A moderated audience Q&A will follow.