The future of identity verification

Facial recognition can be used to unlock smartphones, improve security in airports, and help law enforcement, among other things, and these are only some of the ways it has developed over the last ten years. The facial recognition system is rapidly becoming a pillar of contemporary identity and validation as more individuals in society embrace the idea of a no-contact technology.

undefinedis a kind of biometric technology that identifies or authenticates an individual by looking at the face. As compared to conventional authentication solutions, e.g. passwords or ID cards, this system does not necessitate more than a brief scan of your face. It employs advanced algorithms to identify the facial landmarks and compare them with the images in a database. Once a match has been made, identity is established.

Face recognition is not new, as people have been working on the idea since decades ago, however, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have drastically changed the way this works and how accurate and efficient it can get. In the present era, it is possible to identify the faces using modern systems in different lighting environments, angles, and even when partially covered.

The process of a facial recognition system usually has the following main steps:

Detection: An image or a video stream is then identified to contain a human face by the system.

Alignment: It aligns the face by determining some of the landmarks such as eyes, nose, and mouth.

Feature Extraction: The next step is extraction of specific facial features by the software, which outputs a unique facial signature or faceprint.

Comparison: This faceprint is matched to a database of known faces to identify a possible match.

Identification/ Verification: The system either identifies or verifies the identity of the individual (who is this?/ is this person who he/she says he/she is?).

Recognition of faces has many uses and is constantly increasing. It is used in some of the following use cases:

Face ID and other applications are facial recognition systems that unlock the devices and authorize payments and protect sensitive data produced by Apple. It is quick and easy to use and an alternative to password and fingerprints.

Facial recognition is used by police departments and security agencies to identify suspects in the surveillance footage, track down missing persons, and improve the safety of the population. Although this brings ethical issues into play (which we will mention later), the technology has come in handy when it comes to solving crimes.

Facial recognition is now used to automate the process of checking in and going through customs using automated passport control systems. Passengers will be able to go through the security gateways faster and with less human control.

Face recognition allows retailers to know the demographics of their customers, their foot traffic, and even the mood of the customers. Some of the stores are trying the facial recognition to provide personalized promotions and a seamless checkout experience.

Facial recognition in the identification of patients in the hospitals is starting to be applied, which is assistive in the reduction of fraud and administrative errors. It is also used by banks to verify transactions and log-in to online banking services.

Facial recognition has a number of strong features:

undefined There is no requirement to carry physical ID cards or have to remember passwords.

undefined The instant verification accelerates different processes.

undefined Particularly useful in the post-COVID world where we want touchless technology.

undefined More difficult to spoof compared to traditional credentials (but not impossible, as will be discussed below).

Although there are many advantages, facial recognition is not without criticism. The possibility of misuse of the technology and surveillance has been brought up by the privacy advocates.

There are facial recognition systems that have been found to be relatively more accurate or inaccurate based on race, age, and gender. This may result in false identifications and discriminating results.

Biometric data present high levels of security risk in terms of storage. The consequences of a data breach, where facial data is involved, may be far-reaching because one cannot change facial features as it is the case with passwords.

Face recognition has been used by governments and corporations in mass surveillance, which has brought about controversy over civil liberties. There is the issue of consent and transparency as people are frequently unaware when and where they are scanned.

In various areas, there are no extensive legislations that regulate the application of facial recognition. Therefore, it can be deployed more quickly than regulation which creates ethical grey areas.

Nevertheless, facial recognition is still developing. Systems are also becoming more precise and adaptive due to the advancement of deep learning and 3D liveness detection. Other areas that researchers are working on include privacy-preserving facial recognition technologies e.g. the ability to authenticate but not store actual facial images.

Regulation has become a concern of governments and organisations. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of Europe has established valuable precedents, and other jurisdictions are following suit. Innovation and ethical application will be a key in years to come.

Facial recognition is not a scenario of the future but a practice that is changing our real lives. The more the technology is more prevalent, the more there is a necessity to exercise responsible application and control. Face recognition is an amazing technology with enormous possibilities we seem to be on the verge of unleashing, as long as we use it in the right way.

The most important thing is to strike a balance between the technological progress and human rights in order to accept a future with facial recognition systems. It is only when we do this that we can realize the full potential of it without interfering with privacy or fairness.