1. A method for authenticating an individual accessing a web service, comprising: obtaining a real-time photograph of the individual using a camera subsystem of a device used by the individual to make an assertion of an identity to the web service; and authenticating the identity by comparing the real-time photograph to a face recognition template previously derived from an identity card issued by an authoritative entity to the individual and previously stored in a data store of an identity authentication platform when the individual registered the identity card on the identity authentication platform by presenting the identity card to the identity authentication platform; wherein the face recognition template is previously derived and stored in the data store by registering the identity of the individual on the identity authentication platform by obtaining a photograph of the identity card and generating the face recognition template and a set of identifying information for authenticating the identity of the individual in response to the photograph of the identity card and storing the face recognition template in the data store of the identity authentication platform.