Biometrics in the form of facial identification and recognition is sweeping the globe. The latest craze in advanced technology is garnering a lot of buzz. At its core, facial authentication is used as a means of protecting ones privacy, acting as a secure barrier from curious hackers. But a well-intentioned innovation in technology is quickly slipping into a dangerous territory, and taking on a name of its own.
\nSo what exactly is the difference between facial authentication and facial identification? Are the two interchangeable? And most importantly, is it a safe technology or a spooky post-apocalyptic reality?<\/p>\n
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Facial authentication has become exponentially more popular in recent years. It\u2019s been used to open our smartphones, tablets, and even our computers, and is designed to add an extra layer of security to our devices. It utilizes these devices\u2019 native sensing technology mixed with various third-party biometric algorithms that leverages device cameras. Some of this technology is even rapidly developing to be able to pick up on any of your sudden movements by having you nod, smile, or continuously move during its scanning phase.<\/p>\n
This type of biometrics technology is known as \u201cmatch on device\u201d and is not to be confused with \u201cmatch on server.\u201d They are often mixed up by users when describing the two, because it stores the details of someone\u2019s most personal features, in order to recognize their identity. The big difference to note is that the \u201cmatch on device\u201d feature never searches the cloud, or even leaves the device it is engaging with. Its only purpose is to confirm someone\u2019s request to their smart device, like their cell phone, laptop, or tablet. This is unlike the alternative option, \u201cmatch on server,\u201d which is a much more critical use of this innovation, because it implies the users’ biometric data is being stored elsewhere and is potentially subject to breaches, theft, or other privacy violations. Data protection laws, such as Europe’s GDPR, place severe limits on any institution’s storage of biometric data, which needs to be specifically motivated.<\/p>\n
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Facial identification, which can often be confused with facial authentication, is a bit of a different approach to this developing technology. While authentication is a secure method of privacy, aimed at matching one-to-one, identification is one-to-many and therefore often used as a surveillance method to spy on citizens. Facial recognition technology, in certain circumstances, can be developed by scanning hundreds of millions of faces from social media profiles or identity documents, even without people\u2019s consent. In some cases, those faces are then run through facial analysis programs to search for potential matches for criminals. This use of this technology is becoming increasingly more concerning, especially for people of color. It opens up a wider window to racial profiling and incorrectly charging an innocent person for a crime.<\/p>\n
Other reasons why facial identification can be worrisome include:<\/p>\n
Unlike facial authentication, whose sole purpose is to create a level of security while preserving user convenience, facial identification is a much blurrier territory.<\/p>\n
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Needless to say, while these two applications run on substantially the same technology, they are world\u2019s apart on their actual aims. Facial authentication is used as a secure unlock or login, with no need to remember a password or a code. It\u2019s used as an extremely effective means of privacy, protecting consumers from being hacked or their accounts from being taken over by fraudsters.<\/p>\n
Facial identification, while also mostly well-intentioned, comes with its own set of trials and tribulations. The privacy is insecure, the consent is not always given, and its use often comes with every questionable and downright unethical uses.<\/p>\n
Knowing the difference between the two, and understanding what to look out for is the first step in protecting your identity in a technology-driven world. Facial authentication, when used properly and with consent in place, proves effective and convenient, and its foundational similarity with facial identification on the technical side should not worry those who embrace it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Understand biometric security better, including what facial recognition and facial identification are, how they\u2019re different, and the role facial authentication can play in biometric security. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9398,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n