Biometrics

Facial recognition biometrics software has recently been proposed as a possible solution to preventing known terrorists in disguise from crossing unknown through airports. While the idea sounds helpful in fighting terrorism, there are several issues that need to be addressed in order for the biometrics software to be truly effective in fighting terrorism. Additionally, privacy issues have arisen from the ACLU and other anti-big-brother advocates.

Facial recognition biometrics software works in much the same way as fingerprint software. An image, typically a photograph, is scanned into the biometrics software. Features of the image are assigned numeric values that, when combined, make up the stored facial print. When a camera or other device is hooked in to the software system, the biometrics software attempts to make a match. A match occurs when a certain number of characteristics, called a threshold, are similar enough to consider a match.

Facial recognition biometrics software could be very helpful in fighting terrorism. The naked eye of security officials may not recognize a known terrorist through well disguised facial features. However, the biometrics software would be able to distinguish disguise from reality through the facial print matching process.

There are a few issues that arise when discussing facial recognition biometrics software as a possible solution for fighting terrorism in airports. First, not many terrorists will pose to have their pictures taken. While thorough descriptions and names may be known, or expert sketches drawn, a photograph will be fairly difficult to come by in most cases. Since the facial recognition biometrics software is only truly accurate with photographs or video footage, not all terrorists would be entered into the system.

The point has also been made that facial recognition biometrics software is one of the more unreliable ways of identifying an individual or authenticating presented identities. This is one of the reasons that facial recognition biometrics software is not in wide use today. Facial recognition is more often used to verify a given identity in combination with other biometrics authentication systems. Using facial recognition alone could hold the potential for innocent people being interrogated because their facial print matched significantly to that of a terrorist.

Privacy issues have also arisen through the voices of the ACLU and other anti-big-brother agencies. The point that these advocates make is that the facial recognition biometrics software, like any biometrics tracking, could be grossly misused by government officials to track average citizens. With provisions of the Patriot Act allowing for more unauthorized surveillance of citizens than ever before, this could be a valid point.

Thus far, the issues regarding privacy and effectiveness have prevented the introduction of facial recognition biometrics software into public airports. However, with biometric passports and other biometrics security solutions being put into place in airports today, it will likely be a matter of time before we see facial recognition biometrics software take hold in public airports across the nation.