In this article, we will discuss how face authentication works. What exactly is the liveness test?
Humans have the natural ability to detect faces in images, and they can differentiate between a human face and an animal face. However, this is not an easy task for a computer or a device. AI algorithms are trained on facial data called landmarks to make them understand and detect a face. Below is an example of 64 landmarks detected by such an algorithm.
Face recognition…
A collection of these landmarks gives a biometric template of the person. To match a human face, we need a template to be matched and a template of an unknown face; algorithms calculate the distance between the two templates (mathematical magic) to define the closeness of the match. With more landmark points accuracy of the face recognition will improve, but it increases the time to compute the template and distances. So, there is always a delicate balance between accuracy and timing.
The face is part of the natural identity of all humans; with devices equipped with cameras, it is possible to authenticate users using face recognition algorithms. However, it is easy to spoof such schemes as pictures are available on public profiles on social media.\
Liveness…
In biometrics, Liveness Detection is a computer’s ability to determine that it is interfacing with a physically present human being and not a spam bot, inanimate spoof artefact, or injected video/data (https://www.liveness.com)
Liveness can be detected easily using hardware sensors, as in the case of the iPhone; however, by observing various features from the live video stream, it is possible to train AI for liveness detection with 100% accuracy.
Face authentication, with liveness detection, can be a vital tool for establishing a person’s identity in the digital world; with adoption from major laptop and device vendors, facial biometric-based authentication is becoming more acceptable in the market.
Face authentication is an effective method that combines security and convenience while safeguarding privacy, benefiting both the organization and the customer experience.
Applications…
1. Remote ID verification
2. Password-less login
3. 2nd Factor Authentication
4. Remote user verification
5. Password-less documents (unique to OkularID)
6. E-signature (unique to OkularID)
With more and more businesses, including banks, becoming digital, liveness can help protect businesses and customers. With ever-increasing phishing attacks on customers and employees (https://www.usa.gov/online-safety) existing, password-based authentication approaches pose a severe threat to companies and corporations (https://firewalltimes.com/biggest-data-breaches-2022/)
Summary
It is not the face recognition but the liveness test that helps ensure the end-users identity. Such a test can enhance online security for end users, businesses, and corporations. Many applications and use cases across industries can benefit from liveness-based user authentication
OkularID is a unique digital identity management platform to authenticate and validate user credentials in the digital space. It is promoted by Aikaki Limited, focused on developing a user-centric digital identity wallet enabling users to share their credentials and digital assets and securely sign documents.