Facial Recognition: applications, benefits and challenges

Facial recognition and biometric authentication, in general, have been game-changers for cybersecurity in the past couple of years. With facial recognition, consumers can easily access their online accounts, apps, or devices by simply having their faces scanned. This reduces the friction of accessing their favorite products without compromising security. 

A poll conducted by VISA showed that over 86% of respondents prefer using biometrics, such as facial recognition, over standard passwords to verify their identity or make payments. The effectiveness of facial recognition is also evident in its widespread adoption, with over 131 million Americans using it every day to access their favorite apps, online accounts, or devices. 

In today’s article, we will discuss the current state of facial recognition technology, including its real-world applications and benefits. We will also explore the challenges of this authentication technology that different players need to resolve to make it even better in future. So, let’s jump right in!

What is Facial Recognition?

Facial recognition is a biometric authentication technique that uses the unique features of an individual's face to identify or verify their identity. This technology first gained traction in the early 1990s when government agencies like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) showcased facial recognition programs. 

These early programs demonstrated the potential of facial recognition technology, especially for security and identification purposes. While it was initially developed for government, military applications, and enterprise markets, facial recognition began to gain significant popularity in the consumer market during the 2010s. 

Advances in computing power, machine learning algorithms, and image processing capabilities made it feasible to implement facial recognition in everyday consumer products. Today, facial recognition is widely used in various consumer devices, with one of the most notable examples being Apple's iPhone (through Face ID) and Windows Laptops (through Windows Hello). 

How the Facial Recognition System Works

Facial recognition involves capturing an image of a person's face and analyzing its features such as the distance between the eyes, jawline, the shape of the nose, and the contours of the cheekbones. These extracted features are converted into a digital template, which is stored in a secure database online or on a user’s device. In the case of Keyless which uses more secure facial recognition tech, this data is converted into a unique cryptographic key to ensure more privacy. 

When authentication is required, the system captures a new image of the user's face and compares it to the stored template. If the new image matches the stored template, the system grants access or confirms the user's identity. The accuracy of facial recognition has been getting better over the years with studies putting the accuracy of the top 100 algorithms over 99.5%. With this level of accuracy, most facial recognition technologies can differentiate individuals during authentication even if they are identical twins. 

Applications of Facial Recognition

Some of the real-world applications of facial recognition include the following: 

Payment Systems

Facial recognition in payment systems enhances security and convenience by allowing users to authorize transactions using their faces. This technology minimizes fraud risk since replicating someone's facial features is challenging for cyber criminals. Using facial recognition is also convenient for users and it speeds up the payment process. If the system requires a password as an alternative authentication method, users are more likely to create a stronger one, knowing they can also use the more convenient facial recognition.

1. Airport Security

   Facial recognition streamlines airport security by expediting passenger check-in and boarding processes. It verifies passengers' identities quickly and accurately, reducing wait times without compromising the security of the process. The more advanced facial recognition today ensures that only authorized individuals can pass through checkpoints, leading to a smoother and more secure travel experience.

2. Unlocking Mobile Devices

   Facial recognition is widely used to unlock mobile devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets. This biometric method offers a fast and secure way to access devices, replacing traditional passwords or PINs. iPhones, iPad Pros, and several Windows laptops are among the popular devices that support facial recognition authentication. 

3. Access Control

   Facial recognition is also used in access control systems to grant or deny entry to secure premises. By recognizing authorized personnel, this technology enhances security in sensitive areas such as offices, research labs, and restricted zones. It offers a reliable, contactless method of ensuring that only approved individuals can access specific locations. 

4. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

   Facial recognition is also commonly used as a component of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), adding an extra layer of security. By combining facial recognition with other authentication methods, such as passwords or SMS codes, MFA ensures that even if one factor is compromised, unauthorized access is still prevented. 

Benefits of Facial Recognition

Let’s explore some of the reasons facial recognition is being widely integrated into several products today. 

1. Enhanced Security

   Facial recognition provides a high level of security by accurately verifying identities. Unlike passwords or PINs, which can be forgotten or stolen, facial features are unique and difficult to replicate, making unauthorized access more challenging. Facial recognition is also widely used to access passkeys for passwordless and anti-phishing authentication. Using biometrics like facial recognition also minimizes shoulder surfing attacks that have become common in recent years. 

2. Convenience

   Despite being secure, the most common reason consumers love facial recognition is its convenience. Facial recognition simplifies access and authentication processes. Users can quickly unlock devices, authorize payments, or gain entry to secure areas without needing to remember passwords or carry physical keys. If someone is accustomed to using facial recognition to access their device or user account, switching back to passwords or PINs can feel outdated and inconvenient. 

3. Speed

   Facial recognition processes are fast, reducing wait times for tasks like logging into devices, checking in at airports, or completing transactions. When well-integrated into a system, facial recognition feels effortless since the user has to do nothing when being authenticated. More people find facial recognition even more convenient than fingerprint scanning since it requires no action on the user’s part. 

4. Contactless Operations Enhance Hygiene

   Facial recognition enables contactless interactions, making processes more hygienic and convenient. For instance, when accessing a secure building, users can do so without touching physical surfaces. This reduces the risk of spreading germs and viruses, contributing to a healthier environment. Having such authentication technology can be crucial to dealing with diseases like COVID-19 that mainly spread through contact. 

5. Fraud Prevention

   Facial recognition enhances fraud prevention by utilizing unique facial features for identity verification. Since everyone has distinct facial characteristics, it is challenging for someone to impersonate another person successfully, even if they are twins. This technology safeguards against unauthorized transactions and access, as only the verified individual can complete actions. Since facial recognition does not rely on passwords, it also mitigates phishing risks, as attackers cannot steal or exploit non-existent credentials.

Challenges of Facial Recognition

Privacy and Data Protection Concerns

Facial recognition technology raises significant privacy concerns as it involves capturing and analyzing biometric data. Users may worry about how their facial information is collected, stored, and used, potentially leading to unauthorized surveillance or misuse. Proper management and robust security measures are crucial to protect this sensitive data from breaches and unauthorized access. Solutions like Keyless’ Zero Knowledge Biometric Authentication are solving this by storing the cryptographic key of the biometric data instead of the raw data. 

Security Risks

While facial recognition enhances security, it is not immune to risks. Sophisticated attackers might use techniques like deepfakes or high-resolution images to spoof the less robust facial recognition system. Additionally, if biometric data is compromised, it cannot be changed like passwords, potentially causing long-term security issues.

Environmental and Contextual Factors

Some facial recognition systems can struggle in varying environmental conditions, such as poor lighting or obstructed views. Changes in appearance (e.g., facial hair, glasses) or background noise can also impact the technology's performance and accuracy.

Public Acceptance

Public acceptance of facial recognition technology can be mixed. While some users appreciate the convenience, others may have concerns about privacy and surveillance. Building trust through transparent practices and addressing these concerns is important for wider adoption.

FAQs

Will facial recognition replace passwords?

Facial recognition is already replacing passwords in several ways. For instance, platforms that use the keyless zero knowledge biometric authentication system no longer need their users to create passwords when registering with them. Facial recognition offers a passwordless authentication method that can reduce the risks associated with password theft and management. 

Why do businesses use facial recognition solutions?

Businesses use facial recognition solutions to improve security, streamline access control, enhance customer experiences, and prevent fraud. It helps in efficiently managing employee access, securing sensitive areas, and offering a seamless authentication process for customers and internal users.

Is facial recognition safe?

In its current state, facial recognition is generally considered safe due to its use of unique biometric data, which makes unauthorized access difficult. However, concerns about privacy and data security exist, but these are being addressed by using advanced solutions that do not store users' raw biometric data.