Why facial recognition is the biometric authentication method of choice

Biometric authentication has become increasingly ubiquitous across various industries and applications, providing a secure and efficient means of online identity verification. Among the biometric modalities, facial recognition technology has gained considerable attention in recent years due to its unique advantages. 

Compared to other biometric authentication modalities, facial recognition solutions can accurately verify an individual's identity while improving the authentication experience overall from a user-experience perspective. 

According to a recent report, the global facial recognition market was valued at $3 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach a value of $13 billion by 2028. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the success of facial recognition technology compared to other biometric authentication modalities. 

What is biometric authentication?

Biometric authentication is a highly secure and reliable method of authentication based on unique biological characteristics such as fingerprints, facial features, and voice patterns. But, while biometric authentication is more secure and reliable than traditional password-based methods, it is not foolproof. That is why it's essential to choose biometric authentication systems that have been extensively tested and verified.

Why is facial recognition superior to other biometric modalities?

Facial recognition technology is more reliable and secure than other biometric authentication methods. A study by Research Gate showed that facial recognition technology is less intrusive and can accurately identify a person's identity with a high degree of accuracy, making it a popular choice for security and authentication purposes.

Other biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint and voice recognition, encounter limitations. Fingerprint recognition is a commonly used method, but it can be bypassed by hackers with an 80% success rate, creating fake fingerprints using 3D printers. In contrast, voice recognition can be easily fooled by AI-generated voices, as demonstrated by a writer for VICE who broke into a bank account using an AI-generated tool.

Facial recognition presents several advantages over other biometric modalities:

Liveness detection and anti-spoofing systems

Facial recognition technology has advanced to include liveness detection and anti-spoofing systems. Liveness detection systems can determine whether the face presented to the camera is real and not simply a photograph or video. Meanwhile, anti-spoofing systems can identify signs of tampering or manipulation in the image, such as masking or overlaying.

Reliability

Facial recognition is viewed as a more reliable form of biometric authentication as it does not rely on physical contact with the device like fingerprint recognition. Often, fingerprint recognition fails to work when fingers are wet, dirty, or injured, making it unreliable in certain situations. However, facial recognition tends to work in nearly all situations.

Consent

Facial recognition technology is typically considered a more secure and reliable biometric authentication method than other biometric modalities, such as fingerprint and especially voice recognition. Voice recognition, in particular, has recently been under scrutiny due to the increasing sophistication of voice cloning tools which enable scammers to readily impersonate victims, which can lead to financial fraud. In contrast, advanced facial recognition technology requires a live sample of an individual's facial image to be captured. As such, this is usually with the knowledge and consent of the user, which can help build trust and demonstrate a commitment to privacy and security.

Familiarity and User Experience

User experience is critical for biometric authentication, especially as its use is becoming more mainstream. According to a recent study, 2.6 billion consumers will use biometrics for authentication by 2023, highlighting the growth of this technology.

Speed, convenience & intuitiveness

The process of facial recognition is intuitive, requiring little conscious effort from the user. Users present their faces to the device's camera, automatically recognizing and authenticating them. This technology saves time and effort by avoiding entering complex passwords or PINs.

Low rate of error

Facial recognition technology boasts a low error rate even when users wear glasses or hats, according to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study that revealed the best face identification algorithm has an error rate of 0.08%. The same research also disclosed that some facial recognition algorithms perform 20 times better when the subject is wearing a mask, proving the adaptability and versatility of this technology.

Why you should implement facial recognition

Facial recognition technology offers numerous benefits for biometric authentication, including improved reliability and security with liveness detection and anti-spoofing systems. Solutions like FaceID enhance the user experience and provide simplicity while privacy-preserving biometric authentication can be achieved with solutions like Keyless.

Looking to the future, we expect continued growth in biometric authentication methods, and facial recognition technology will likely become even more integrated into daily life and business operations. Ongoing innovation and development must prioritize reliability, security, and privacy to ensure that the technology remains trustworthy.

Explore passwordless solutions like Keyless today and unlock a new level of security and convenience for your customers. To learn more about our solution and how it can benefit your organization, visit our website or contact us.