Mexico’s biometric CURP reform aims to unify identity verification and support the search for missing persons, but faces major challenges in implementation, data security, and public trust
Key takeaways:
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Legal promise, operational gaps — The biometric CURP could streamline identity verification in legal and notary contexts but lacks training programs and designated data capture sites.
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Balancing security and civil liberties — While intended to help locate missing persons, the CURP raises concerns over government surveillance due to broad access by security agencies.
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Digital readiness under scrutiny — Mexico currently lacks the systems and regulatory framework to securely manage biometric data, risking identity fraud and misuse if not properly addressed.
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Last July, key reforms to Mexico’s General Population Law and the General Law on Forced Disappearance were approved, marking the beginning of a transformation in the way people are officially identified in the country.
With these reforms, the biometric Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) becomes an official identification document, which is now mandatory and available in both physical and digital formats that will integrate biometric information such as fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs.
The biometric CURP will be used mainly for identity validation on digital platforms, immigration procedures, access to health services, legal processes, and to support the search for missing persons. With little time left before its implementation, doubts linger regarding how this new system will be implemented and the impact it may have, especially in the judicial and notarial areas.
To provide a professional perspective on the possible impacts, José Raúl González Ramírez, Master in Notarial Law and aspirant assigned to Notary 1 in Cuernavaca, Morelos, shared his personal perspective on what this mandate will mean for Mexico and its citizens.
Challenges and benefits in the legal and notary fields
In Mexico, there is currently no single official identification document. In the legal and notary field, the passport and voter ID card are mainly used, as they are documents issued by federal institutions that generally use greater security measures. The biometric CURP could represent a solution to this lack of a single document, offering a more reliable tool to validate people’s identity.
However, key parts of the system are still lacking that could have significant consequences. For example, there is no implementation program to train notaries on this document; and while the College of Mexican Notaries is hoping to disseminate training mechanisms in the coming months, so many areas of the system remain undefined that training at this stage could prove difficult.
Further, no designated sites have been reported for the population to go for the official capture of the biometric data that is at the heart of the system’s methodology. Finally, no official date has been defined for the mandatory use of this new CURP.
Hope or surveillance?
The biometric CURP was approved with the main objective of strengthening the search, location, and identification of missing persons in Mexico. Not surprisingly, this has raised significant government surveillance issues. And while the access to CURP is stipulated to be exclusively for search purposes, access on a consultation basis will be allowed to prosecutors, investigative bodies, and the National Intelligence Center.
This measure has generated divided opinions among Mexicans. On one hand, there is fear that it could become a tool for government surveillance as the National Guard (GN) and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) can access individuals’ delicate information that will include bank and telecommunications data. On the other, it represents hope for thousands of families who have been searching for their loved ones in a country in which 42 people disappear daily on average according to the National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons (RNPDNO).
Master José Raúl says he considers the implementation is positive, since its initial purpose is the search for missing persons. The rest of the population’s concerns, in that sense, would be “collateral damage,” he adds.
“It is going to be an identification that, if done correctly and if the registration is adequate, will strengthen the notary’s ability to identify the person in front of them and avoid, as much as possible, a false declaration or impersonation at the moment of identification,” José Raúl explains.
Is Mexico ready?
One of the greatest challenges will be Mexico’s ability to securely store and manage the vast amount of confidential data required for the biometric CURP. According to José Raúl, the country currently lacks the necessary systems, infrastructure, and regulatory framework to handle this information effectively.
“If implemented correctly, this system could provide stronger safeguards against identity fraud,” he explains. “However, without a reliable database and proper data management, it could become a serious problem.”
In addition, there is uncertainty about how the data will be captured, with which population the process will begin (those over 18 years of age, or also minors), and how often the database should be cleaned. The population aged 0 to 18 poses a particularly complex challenge due to its size, which current resources and infrastructure are not equipped to handle effectively.
In the coming months, it will be crucial for the Mexican government to define the implementation mechanisms, the initial target population, and the data cleansing processes, as this will be one of the most important aspects for the success or failure of the biometric CURP.
The road ahead
Although a pilot program is currently underway in Mexico City, it is essential to establish a robust action plan for collecting population data. Likewise, a clear framework must be defined for the management, maintenance, and protection of this data, especially considering the sensitive nature of the information and the critical need to prevent misuse. Further, it is crucial to assess whether the government has the technological infrastructure required to securely store this data, or if investment in such storage capabilities will be necessary.
You can learn more about the challenges of identity verification here
