Biometrics

At Arana Security, many of our products including our facial recognition solution, integrate the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI) with biometrics to ensure high levels of security without compromising on ease or speed of access. In this article, we take a look at how recent AI innovations have vastly improved biometric technology through voice and face recognition security measures.  In an increasingly digital world where technology advances rapidly every year, securing organisations against cybercrime is a global concern. In recent years we have witnessed major data breaches at some of the largest companies in the world including Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft, where millions of customers’ private data were exposed. According to data provided by the Identity Theft Resource Center, from January to September 2021, 281 million people were affected by ongoing data leaks and breaches. In the first half of 2021 alone, scammers stole £754 million – a 30% increase from the same period a year before.  These relentless cyber-attacks have driven innovation in biometric technology to protect organisations against ever-advancing threats. Improvements in artificial intelligence with biometric face and voice recognition technology are one of the ways that organisations have been able to grow and adapt to the threat of cyber criminals finding new ways to manipulate the security in place.  AI and deep learning  In simple terms, artificial intelligence is the ability of a computer to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence. Machine learning and deep learning are vital functions of AI that imitate the pattern creation and processing power of the human brain to make decisions. This capability of machine learning without human supervision is what makes AI unparalleled for improving biometric technology and security solutions.  AI and facial recognition biometrics Facial recognition technology has exploded since its integration as a key feature in the security of smartphones, with the market estimated at $3.8 billion in 2020 and projected to grow to $8.5 billion by 2025. The technology has become more advanced and more secure than ever, with AI advances in augmented reality and machine learning improving technology and its ability to recognise human facial features. The COVID-19 pandemic fueled the growth of this biometric technology, with facial recognition becoming increasingly difficult with the introduction of face masks on a large scale. AI-based 3D biometrics are capable of searching vast databases of faces and comparing them with other faces in an image or video almost instantly, with a 99.5% accuracy rate. This means that AI could overcome these identification issues by matching the face of a subject with an image in the database, even if they are wearing a facemask. This is done by breaking the human face into various data points, for example, the distance between the eyes or the height of the cheekbones. The AI uses these data points to account for variations including things like distance from the camera, or different angles of the person’s face.  Without the integration of AI, facial recognition was much less secure against hacking with images of a person\’s face or a person who looked similar. Machine learning has helped mitigate these risks with various anti-spoofing methods.  AI and voice recognition biometric technology Like facial recognition biometric technology, the voice recognition market has experienced huge growth, valued at $10.7 billion in 2021, with projections of a 16.7% increase between 2021 and 2026. Voice recognition has boomed since smart devices like Google Home, Amazon Alexa and ‘Siri’ on the iPhone, came onto the market. Voice recognition has helped overcome issues with traditional authentication systems, where passwords and logins are forgotten, in situations (like in a car) where hands-free capabilities are needed for safety and to secure individuals and organisations against fraud. Recent AI deep learning research has improved biometric voice recognition dramatically, with the technology moving close to human accuracy. AI voice authentication analyses speed, accent, volume, style, language and pitch in voice identity verification, creating a unique speech template for an individual. As these advances in AI and biometric technology have continued, voice recognition technology has become more sophisticated and its use has evolved from basic home assistants to applications for privacy and security. For example, organisations are employing voice biometrics to mitigate telephone fraud, where criminals are impersonating customers over the phone. Phone systems have historically been an area where security is more easily breached which has resulted in IDs being stolen, funds diverted and company data being exposed. With AI helping to create unique voiceprints with high levels of accuracy, these types of fraud will be much easier to prevent.  The security of both facial and voice recognition biometric technology has been greatly improved and secured with the rapid advance in AI. A recent IBM study revealed that almost 25% of industries will have already implemented AI-based security and 40% plan to. If you are interested in protecting your business with the latest biometric security solutions, book a 30-minute consultation today. 

At Arana Security, we have worked with industry experts to create state-of-the-art contactless biometrics solutions. In this article, we delve into the drivers behind this growing industry. While contactless biometrics solutions are already widely used across some sectors, particularly in BFSI services, the technology is now being expanded for much broader applications across industries, including government and law enforcement, healthcare, military and defence, retail, hospitality and education. The range of touchless technology to be utilised across these industries includes: Facial recognition Contactless fingerprint recognition Iris recognition Palm vein recognition Gait recognition Voice recognition Contactless cards Recent market research published by P&S Intelligence found that in 2021 the contactless biometrics market was worth around $17.3 million and is expected to reach $59.5 million by 2030. So, what are the drivers behind this huge projection of 14.6% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) for the forecasted period? Health and Safety (Post Covid19) Since the outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic, every industry has been forced to go through a huge shift, quickly adapting to new global health and safety mandates. A key factor in the successful adaptation to the virus has been the integration of contactless biometric devices. The pandemic has inadvertently fast-forwarded the development and public acceptance of these touchless technologies. Even in 2022, there is still a global focus on hygiene and concern about the spread of the virus. Contactless biometric technology allows for the verification of an identity without any physical contact while remaining highly secure, and there is evidence it is becoming increasingly popular post-COVID-19. For example, 32% of businesses now plan to implement touchless access control according to ‘The 2022 State of Physical Access Control Report’ by HID Global. The surge in demand for this touchless tech because of the pandemic has improved accessibility as costs decrease and a growing number of companies worldwide discover the benefits of these solutions. Law Enforcement and Fraud Prevention The rapid development of these contactless biometrics has had huge implications for law enforcement worldwide, including tackling identity fraud and improving border control. For example: In Ireland police may soon be able to use real-time facial recognition and forensic face biometrics from public surveillance cameras. A recent report by Transparency Market Research has suggested North America will lead the global touchless biometrics market, adopting the tech for government and military applications. They highlight that since 2017, the El Paso Police Department has been using biometrics including facial recognition, iris scanning and fingerprint ID for border security. The market has also seen significant uptake across the Asia Pacific for defence purposes, particularly in the fight against increasing terrorist attacks. The implications of this technology for fraud prevention are clear. It is much more difficult to hack a password when it is physiological (facial authentication for your iPhone, for example). The improved security also lies in the accuracy of the technology. A 2020 study found that facial recognition technology is as accurate as 99.97%. The banking and finance sector has significantly contributed to the growth of the industry with their adoption of contactless biometric devices for fraud prevention, securing data and replacing more traditional security which is more susceptible to attacks (PINS and passwords). Government Adoption of Contactless Biometrics Market research shows that the government sector is the largest end user in the contactless biometrics market, driving its growth. As well as for virus control following the COVID-19 pandemic, national governments have been adopting these systems to control crime, improve immigration control and for the security of government buildings. For example, in 2021 the Immigration Department of Hong Kong announced the launch of their ‘Contactless e-Channel service,’ saying: ‘This initiative aims to provide faster, more convenient travel and a more hygienic immigration clearance service for residents.\” This contactless service for residents uses QR code scanning and facial recognition biometric technology. In 2021, the UK government\’s Home Office outlined a new plan to use automated gates and contactless corridors for identity and security checks at UK airports. This would mean passengers could verify their identity without their passport, using biometrics. They stated that new plans are aimed at improving ‘both security and the passage of legitimate travellers through the border’. Biometric Update has reported that Jamaica is implementing a pilot digital biometric ID system to help citizens access their cash assistance schemes. In April 2022, the government reported that $300 Jamaican dollars were still uncollected by beneficiaries. In Pakistan, a social intervention program using a biometrics-based ID card is being rolled out to help women benefit from cash support. Here at Arana Security, we have the latest contactless biometric solutions including touchless fingerprint recognition, multimodal recognition combining fingerprints and vein patterns, facial recognition and iris recognition. If you’d like to be part of the growing ‘contactless biometric trend’ or learn more about how it can benefit your business, speak to one of our team and schedule a security consultation today.

At Arana Security, we’ve seen an increase in the instalment and use of biometrics in developing countries and wanted to explore why and how this has happened. The World Bank estimates that nearly 1 billion people in developing countries worldwide do not officially exist due to a lack of formal identification. This issue has serious implications for both individuals, businesses and governments, stunting the opportunity for political, economic and social development. The introduction and widespread adoption of biometric identification systems in these developing nations has been key in tackling this issue in recent years, with the rapid reduction of people without formal identities from 1.5 billion in 2016 to 1.1 billion in 2017. So, what have been the driving factors in the growth of biometrics in developing countries? Closing the ‘identity gap’ In parts of the world where it can be difficult to access ID cards, passports or birth certificates, individuals struggle to access services and rights that are taken for granted in developing countries. These include: Healthcare Voter registration Financial aid Payroll and pension services Education Formal employment Mobile phones Bank accounts Travel Without unique and reliable individual identifiers, governments cannot provide goods and services to the population and tax evasion and fraud tend to be prevalent. The resource-intensive paper system used in these countries is easily manipulated and fragile in nature. It has become clear to the governments in these nations that the identity gap is not just a symptom of underdevelopment, but a major contributing factor. Beyond the opportunities for individual citizens, ensuring the entire population has a legal identity is vital for national development, the ability to raise revenue and promoting and encouraging growth in the private sector. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals include ensuring that everyone has a legal identity by 2030 which prompted groups like the World Bank to set up ID4D (ID for development) and ID4 Africa. With access to biometric technology like our Biometrics ID products, these groups are working to tackle the identity gap challenge and help grow the use of biometrics in developing countries. Developments in technology The technology behind biometrics in developing countries has not always been accessible due to a range of complex factors including cost, infrastructure, remoteness and environment. In recent years rapidly falling costs have opened the biometrics market up to parts of the world that need it desperately, and advancements in biometrics tech have made the identification and authentication of hundreds of millions of people a possibility. Extreme environmental conditions that previously seemed insurmountable have been overcome by tech innovation. Extreme temperature, dust and sunlight that would render tech ineffective have been combated with adaptable, lightweight mobile devices. Combining these devices with biometric technology has facilitated the successful implementation of identity programmes. A booming industry The scope of the identification issue in developing countries has created huge opportunities for biometrics companies which in turn drives innovation and progress. In Africa and the Middle East, the biometrics market is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 21%. By 2027, the global biometrics industry is expected to reach $82 billion, according to the report, ‘Biometrics – Global Market Trajectory & Analytics 2020,’ published by Global Industry Analysts.  In developed countries, biometrics evolved from law enforcement, through border control, to broader use purposes. Due to the identity gap, there has been a much broader application of biometrics in developing countries, especially for delivering public services, from health records and civil registries to public payrolls, pensions and voter registration to name a few. In the more affluent nations, governments have the capacity to carry out national identity programs while in the developing nations, solutions providers are better equipped and experienced. This means there are opportunities for companies to win large national contracts and gain a foothold in local and national markets. In Africa, where over half of the nearly one billion people without legal identity reside, there are many examples of how transformative biometric technology has been for individuals, companies and the way in which governments operate. Nearly 50 African nations have been issued e-passports in a drive to push biometric IDs. In Zimbabwe, the Public Service Commission implemented a biometric system and in 2020 they used it to discover 3,000 ‘ghost workers’ on the payroll. They were then able to remove them and save the country money. In Tanzania in 2020, the government made it mandatory for SIM card users to register their SIM cards biometrically, so now the majority of citizens have a biometric ID. This was a big step to successfully start rolling out biometrics in developing countries at a large scale, allowing the citizens time to adjust and paving the way forward for the installation of biometrics in other applications. There have been initiatives put in place across West Africa with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation naming biometrics, bank accounts and mobile phones the ‘trinity’ that will lead to digital inclusion.  The president of ID4 Africa, Dr. Joseph Atick commented on the scope of the issue, “If they don’t exist officially, they cannot have a stake in society, and as a consequence, it’s a priority to rectify. It’s a priority for development agencies because of the opportunity to empower the development indicators.’ To find out more about the biometric solutions we offer at Arana Security, click here.