he fraudulent use of identity and travel documents represents a threat to the security of countries and their citizens, to their economies and to world trade, as it facilitates the committing of a wide variety of crimes. Forged or altered passports have become essential pieces in the arsenal of terrorists and other criminals who seek to hide their identity, cross borders, transfer funds, and carry out illicit activities. As a result, national authorities, governments and businesses need to know if their citizens and customers are really who they say they are.
Currently, facial recognition has become increasingly popular across various industries and applications, especially in digital identity verification for banks, but also in airports. Facial recognition systems are beginning to be used by airports around the world to improve security and efficiency in passport and customs control processes.
What are the advantages of identity authentication for passengers?
One of the most significant benefits of facial recognition at airports is its ability to verify identities quickly and accurately. Once the passenger has carried out the onboarding in their application and their identity has been verified by contrasting their document with their biometric data and the government databases, they already have everything they need to travel without setbacks or delays.
Once at the airport, the system can scan and compare a passenger’s face against a database of stored images to determine if the person is who they say they are. Once there, and with the onboarding process already completed, they will be able to go through the controls that require identity verification after a quick facial recognition. This will significantly reduce the waiting time at security checkpoints, which in turn will improve the user experience.
Another important benefit of facial recognition is its ability to detect potential criminals or terrorists who may be trying to enter the country. If a person has previously been identified as a suspect, the identity verification system can alert authorities to take necessary precautionary measures.
In addition, facial recognition can help reduce the use of false passports and identity fraud by detecting abnormalities in the face, such as changes in the appearance or position of facial features, through the study of features and passive liveness technology. This can be particularly useful in detecting forged passports or identity documents.
Digital identity verification systems have a higher degree of accuracy compared to traditional passport control systems and can effectively detect fraudulent or dangerous attempts to bypass them. This not only ensures airport security but also provides a more comfortable and faster experience for travellers. As the technology becomes popular, we can expect to see its increased implementation not only in airports, but also in other areas such as: stadium entrances, car rentals, and opening bank accounts.
