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Building upon its recent report, Members’ Viewpoints: The Use of Facial Recognition in Policing, the Biometrics Institute convened a pivotal On the Pulse Conversation to examine the broader application of facial recognition technology (FRT) across publicly accessible spaces, including retail, clubs, stadiums, and policing. The session, titled Facial Recognition in Retail, Clubs, Stadiums, and Policing – Should the Same Standards Apply?, brought together members, policymakers, and industry experts to address the mounting concerns surrounding FRT, including live facial recognition (LFR), in both public and private sectors. With specific attention paid to the police use of this technology and adoption by commercial users.

The conversation led by Biometrics Institute Expert Group members and guests included: 

• Roger Baldwin, Advisory Council Member, Biometrics Institute (moderator)
• Brett Feldon, Head of Digital Identity Group
• David White, Member, Technology and Innovation Expert Group
• Martin George, Member of Digital Identity Group
• Mick O’Connell, Advisory Council Member
• Terry Aulich, Head of Privacy Expert Group
• Terry Hartmann, Member of Future Direction Group
• Jason Zhou, National Solutions Manager, Digital ID & Biometrics, NEC Australia

Discussions kicked off noting that the use of FRT is on the increase and public concern over the collection, storage, sharing and deletion of their data is a key concern that the biometrics community needs to address. Isabelle Moeller, CEO of the Biometrics Institute, summarised the conversations by saying:

We need firm guidance on how to achieve a successful and positive implementation that will stand up to third party scrutiny. What should a Privacy Impact Assessment for FRT use in publicly accessible spaces look like to meet regulatory challenges? When is the use proportionate and how do you explain to citizens how their data is managed? How do you handle the issue of obtaining consent in a commercial environment?

The meeting debated in detail the complexities of obtaining informed consent in publicly accessible spaces, where continuous monitoring raises significant privacy concerns. Members discussed how a better understanding of FRT operation could be achieved, and some of the proposed ideas will be explored further at the next member meeting.

A significant point of discussion was the lack of mandatory independent testing, not only of the technical accuracy of FR systems but also of the surrounding infrastructure and policies. Participants noted the current fragmented regional approaches to FRT regulation and explored the potential benefits of more consistent, national and international approaches.

The panel noted the growing use of FRT in retail for loss prevention as well as staff protection, and in entertainment venues for access control and security. These commercial applications, although potentially beneficial, presents unique challenges regarding data privacy and consent, as customers often unknowingly have their biometric data captured. The need for clear guidelines and regulations in these private sector deployments was strongly emphasised.

Key points raised during the conversation included:

• The importance of clearly defining the purpose of FRT deployment, which may vary across different circumstances
• Significant variations in Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) practices across different jurisdictions underscores the need for global standards
• Fair and transparent processes are necessary to correct misidentification, along with clear guidelines for individuals to seek redress
• Potential for legal challenges from offenders and their legal representatives if basic standards are not established
• The known gender and racial bias in facial recognition technology, and the importance of trained personnel to review the FRT outputs in context
• The importance of technical testing, and the need to also test the infrastructure and policies

The Biometrics Institute will continue this critical discussion at its upcoming Asia Pacific Conference in Sydney in May and its Congress in London this October. These events, underscore our members’ commitment to responsible biometrics practices, and the Three Laws of Biometrics – policy, before process and technology, proving the need, and applying proportionality to build trust – as principles for all discussions and future policy recommendations.

Understanding the challenges of securing consensus for biometric data usage, particularly in widespread public applications, the Institute is actively developing new proposals and further details on these initiatives will be shared as they evolve.

ENDS

About the Biometrics Institute

The Biometrics Institute is the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties. It was established in 2001 to promote the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics. It has offices in London and Sydney.

The member register which represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community now lists over 200 membership organisations from 41 countries. It includes banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics and 18 Observers representing United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institution. 

The Biometrics Institute connects the global biometrics community. It shares knowledge with its members and key stakeholders and most importantly, develops good practices and thought leadership for the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics.

For more information, please email Marco Lombardi.

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The Biometrics Institute, the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometrics users, is set to host a pivotal On the Pulse (OTP) Conversation, addressing the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of facial recognition (FR) technology in public spaces. Titled Facial Recognition in Retail, Clubs, Stadiums, and Policing – Should the Same Standards Apply?, this online event will closely examine the critical distinctions between private and public sector FR applications, offering crucial insights for regulators, enforcers, and the wider public.

With increasing deployments of FR in retail environments, entertainment venues, and by law enforcement, the need for clear, consistent, and responsible guidelines has never been more timely. The OTP will examine the varying risks associated with different use cases, from retrospective criminal investigations to live facial recognition (LFR), and explore the public’s growing concerns surrounding privacy and data security.

Experts will lead the conversation, and viewpoints will address:

• Differentiating between private sector FR use (retail, clubs, stadiums) and public sector (policing, law enforcement), and the need for a consistent approach to FR technology, driven by well-constructed policy and process
• Policy defining appropriate and proportionate use cases, including staff and customer safety in retail settings, and specific applications like detecting shoplifters and protecting problem gamblers
• The application of robust quality management procedures (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) to FR in law enforcement, particularly for retrospective investigations, with standards comparable to those used for DNA analysis
• Process development and informed consent in practice, including adequate signage in public spaces
• Image and data management, including data storage duration, deletion policies, and access control, and match management, including human verification (human-in-the-loop), training requirements, and associated risks
• Public concerns surrounding LFR including its perception as a continuous police line-up and the associated anxieties about AI and privacy
• Technology and performance, including the use of centralised versus localised image databases for FR and governance structures, including data quality and testing procedures
• Defining best practices for consumer engagement and transparency

How regulators and enforcers can attend

Recognising the vital role regulators and enforcers play in shaping ethical biometrics frameworks, the Biometrics Institute facilitates informed dialogue. This On the Pulse Conversation offers direct engagement with experts, insights into latest developments, and a chance to influence future policies. We understand the challenges of balancing innovation, public safety, and privacy. Your participation is invaluable for responsible and transparent facial recognition deployment, fostering public trust and safeguarding rights. To register, regulators and enforcers should email penny@biometricsinstitute.org on, or before Friday, 28 March 2025.

It is recommended that participants read the Biometrics Institute’s Members’ Viewpoints: The Use of Facial Recognition in Policing, paper, which provides crucial context for the discussion.

ENDS

About the Biometrics Institute 

The Biometrics Institute is the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties. It was established in 2001 to promote the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics and has offices in London and Sydney. 

The member register which represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community now lists over 200 membership organisations from 41 countries. It includes banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics and 18 Observers representing United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institution. 

The Biometrics Institute connects the global biometrics community. It shares knowledge with its members and key stakeholders and most importantly, develops good practices and thought leadership for the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics. 

For more information, please email Marco Lombardi.

The post Facial Recognition Standards: Regulator Invitation appeared first on Biometrics Institute.

I would like to thank all of you who have responded to our Member Services Survey. We are here to service your organisation and you as a member, and I know it takes some time to complete such a survey. We received a lot of helpful information and I was particularly pleased to hear that a key reason to be a member is to receive trusted and updated information on trends and developments in our community.

The State of Biometrics Report  together with the annual Industry Survey have been identified as very popular resources and we also note that as budgets are tight, it is important to ensure our community can stay connected not only through in-person events but online gatherings. We are also looking at new ways we can share some of our members’ insights and you may like to listen to a recent interview we conducted with some of our members on what they expect to see in 2025. And if you have missed it, you can still watch the recording of our recent On the Pulse Conversation: A Need for Multimodal Biometrics?
 
I am also thrilled that you have helped us to have a louder voice by contributing to two recent viewpoint papers, one on AI and biometrics and the other on facial recognition use in policing. You should have received an invite to our next online Member Meeting: On the Pulse Conversation: Facial Recognition in a Retail Environment, Clubs, Stadiums and Policing – Should the Same Standards Apply? And we have also scheduled a discussion in person on this topic at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Conference in Sydney. 

Education remains high on our agenda and there are a range of things happening. Following our in-person Fundamentals of Biometrics workshop, we are now exploring ways to deliver the content in shorter online segments. So watch this space. We are soon launching a teaser so you can try out learning about the fundamentals of biometrics in a very different way.
 
And of course we maintain and expand our community on a daily basis so if there are any changes to your membership or to colleagues coming and going, please do notify us so we can ensure we have the current list of members up to date. For outreach there is heaps of activity too where a range of our directors, committee members and team are attending external events to raise awareness about our important mission, using biometrics responsibly, ethically and effectively.
 
I hope you enjoy this March edition of the newsletter. As usual, if you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Kind regards,

Isabelle

Isabelle Moeller
Chief Executive
Biometrics Institute

Thought leadership

Roundtable discussion with the UK Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention on facial recognition, 14 January 2025
On 14 January, I attended a meeting with the Minister, Dame Diana Johnson, discussing facial recognition (FR) use. I had contacted her office in December following an article I read on a debate about live facial recognition in the UK. 

It was an invitation-only event and I was not able to have other Institute members join me, but I offered members the opportunity to provide me with questions to take to the meeting. I then based my queries around the Institute’s Three Laws of Biometrics: 

• How is policy being developed – Are forces potentially being left to their own devices with limited central guidance?
• Same for process – and how is this being checked for optimisation – reactive vs officer initiated vs live?
• Tech and performance – central systems i.e. Police National Computer (PNC) vs localised at force level.  PNC – are they setting up a centralised image database for FR? What about any governance structures being put around it – including data quality etc?
• Transparency and reporting – what data will be shared with the public, and what are the plans for feedback and remediation?

Industry was predominately calling for clarity, the rules for the road. What can and what can’t we do? What is required to implement it responsibly? Consistency is important and best practice should be shared across government.

I presented the key points included in our new paper: Members’ Viewpoints: The Use of Facial Recognition in Policing, which I have submitted to the Minister following the meeting.
 
It seems a very positive approach to be commenting on any proposed or potential new policy/legislation and we will again seek your viewpoints when a next opportunity presents itself.
 
I also shared this paper with other key stakeholders including the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

Use of facial recognition (FR) in public places
Following the release of that paper, we are now asking questions of the responsible use of FR beyond policing, and discussing whether different use cases need different approaches? Take for example retail, a private use of FR. Shouldn’t the same good practices that we expect from policing apply here? 

To be part of the discussion, join our next complimentary On the Pulse Conversation: Facial Recognition in a Retail Environment, Clubs, Stadiums and Policing – Should the Same Standards Apply?, online on 3 April 2025.

The Relationship between AI and Biometrics
After a year of engaging with our members and other experts across the global biometrics community, we have released another new paper, Members’ Viewpoints: The Relationship Between Biometrics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

The paper summarises the discussion that took place amongst our global membership on the relationship between biometrics and AI and highlights significant disparities in opinion. 

Some members argue that biometrics are inherently intertwined with AI, while others emphasise that many biometric applications exist independently.

You can download the paper here.

I wrote to the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, in January to share this paper, and also to Anthony Murfett, Head Of Division Technology and Digital at the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, as well as the section of the European Commissioner in charge of the EU AI Act.

Biometrics and authentication in Australia
Also in January I wrote to Jeremy Fenton, Executive Manager at the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), following the Proposal to vary the Telecommunications Service Provider (Customer Identity Authentication) Determination 2022. 

Whilst we cannot comment on the consultation document ourselves I did explain that the Biometrics Institute advocates for the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics, and we encourage the Australian authorities and the private sector to connect with us. I highlighted how our guidance, thought leadership materials and discussion forums can help stakeholders navigate the complexities of biometric technology, which may be relevant to ACMA as they develop their thinking.

Another letter went to David Haslehurst, CEO, Services Australia regarding “Govt service centres to share images of aggressive customers to boost safety”, pointing out that we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this approach further as it is important to recognise that “human-based facial recognition” isn’t necessarily better than “machine-based facial recognition”, which is well documented by reputable academics and testing organisations.
 
The Hon. David Harris, MP, Minister for Gaming and Racing, NSW Government announced gaming reforms and in particular the Facial Recognition Technology in Hotels and Clubs Consultation Paper. We invited his chief advisers to attend our April online event on the very issue of FR use cases.

Knowledge sharing and guidance

Concepts and Solutions Report: The Future of Responsible Biometrics
In our Member Services Survey you told us that it is important to you to learn about new trends and solutions so you will find the new Biometrics Concepts and Solutions Report focusing on the future of responsible biometrics which offers insights from 30 Biometrics Institute supplier members. The report explores the ethical and responsible use of biometrics, both present and future, offering practical approaches to navigating the complexities of this rapidly advancing technology.

This report has proved to be very popular and has been downloaded over 500 times in its first two weeks. You can read it here.

Good practice guidance planned for 2025
We have a number of guidance pieces in development thanks to the efforts of our expert groups and committees including the following:

Procurement Guide for Biometrics
We were delighted by the response to our call to members for input into our draft procurement guide. A big thank you to those who shared their thoughts. 
We are now in the process of reviewing the input and updating the document before its release in Q2 2025. 

Biometric Vulnerabilities explanatory graphic
Following the success of our Verification (1:1) and identification (1:n) explanatory graphics our Technology and Innovation Group (TIG) are developing another explanatory graphic, this time with a focus on biometric vulnerabilities.

Updated Privacy Guidelines
Our Privacy and Policy Expert Group (PEG)  have started to update our Privacy Guidelines. The guidelines, which are revised every two years, will be released to members in May . 

Educational workshops
The in-person Fundamentals of Biometrics Short Course had its debut in London on 27 February, and it was wonderful to welcome attendees from across our global membership. The course provides a broad understanding of implementing biometric systems and delves into the critical policy issues, key processes and risk management challenges that should always be considered and addressed during the selection, procurement and operation of any biometric system. 

We are working towards making the Fundamentals of Biometrics Short Course available online and on-demand so those keen to learn about biometrics can do this anytime, anywhere in the world. To gauge interest in such a course we will be releasing a recorded segment of one of the first of four modules as an introduction at no cost. Keep your eyes open for the release of this taster session, coming soon!  

We are also very pleased to offer a new workshop on 14 October 2025, the day before this year’s Biometrics Institute Congress in London. The Good Practices for Utilising Facial Recognition in Identity Verification, Security, Intelligence & Law Enforcement Workshop will focus on steps that government and private sector organisations should take when incorporating facial recognition into their operations, and will offer recommendations on policies and documentation necessary for use cases including remote identity verification, facility access control, real-time surveillance and forensic analysis. This workshop will be presented by Richard Vorder Bruegge who was Chief Image Advisor at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) until his retirement in 2024. More information will follow soon.

And don’t miss our next educational workshop, taking place in Sydney on 20 May: Mitigating Biometric Vulnerabilities in Digital Identity Workshop.

Biometrics Learning Tool
Nearly two years after its original launch we are delighted that our learning tool, Biometrics Essentials, continues to be accessed on a weekly basis.

Over 500 individuals have now completed the freely available course and this continues to grow on a weekly basis. The majority of those who have accessed it to date are new to the Institute and often represent learners from emerging countries who are an important audience to us.

Online video content and resources
A reminder of some of our most popular online resources that continue to be regularly accessed by members and non-members alike:

• Beyond the checkout, a conversation between Brett Feldon, Head of our Digital Identity Group, and myself, which looks at responsible biometrics implementation for the retail environment and beyond, available here.
• Explanatory videos featuring Stephanie Schuckers, Director and Co-head of the Institute’s Technology and Innovation Group and myself, that complement our Verification (1:1) and identification (1:n) explanatory graphics

Inspiring messages on future trends from Biometrics Institute members as they share their hopes and aspirations for ethical and responsible biometrics in 2025 and beyond. You can watch them here.

Outreach and connecting our community

Expert Meeting Identity Management 2040 
Our Director, Hans de Moel and our Future Direction Group Head, Paul Cross participated in an important discussion on legal identity and migrant rights at the Expert Meeting Identity Management 2040 working group at the end of last year, where they met with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) member states and colleagues in The Hague.

EM2040 discussions focused on addressing legal identity and the protection of migrants’ rights. IOM is committed to tackling this global challenge and we believe that secure and inclusive legal identity systems, powered by responsible biometric technologies, can empower individuals and transform societies.

Technical Cooperation & Capacity Building for Border Management and Identity Conference (BMIC) in Bangkok
I enjoyed moderating a valuable workshop on “Credible Evidence of Identity: Striking a Balance between Trust and Truth” at BMIC hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangkok in December. The discussion brought together leading experts to share their insights on this critical topic and what can be done to ensure that biometric systems are implemented responsibly, ethically, and securely.

Bali Process
We were also pleased to participate in the RSO’s Third Border Forum where our Director, Paul Cross, shared valuable insights on biometrics good practices for border management in a panel on “Enhancing Border Security through Technology and Collaboration”.

We engaged with over 130 senior government officials, frontline officers, liaison experts, and technical specialists from Bali Process Member and Observer States, as well as regional and international organisations.

Intergraf Currency and Identity, Milan 5-7 March 2025
I enjoyed speaking at Intergraf in Milan last week. I outlined strategies for ensuring the responsible, ethical, and effective implementation of biometrics, and explored how we can create a future where trust is the currency that empowers individuals and strengthens society by prioritising the Three Laws of Biometrics.

Other engagement and upcoming outreach
Our ANZ Member Engagement Manager, Simon Relph, attended the Unfamiliar Face Identification Group (UFIG) meeting at the University of Queensland, 11-12 February, and connected with around 40 key stakeholders. We were very pleased to see that several of those stakeholders referenced the Institute in their presentations.

And at the end of March our Director, Hans de Moel, will be presenting at the World Border Security Congress in Madrid and spreading the word again about good practices for biometrics.

Member news

New Biometrics Institute members
A very warm welcome to our new members, Blue Biometrics, Corsound AI, ezPassport Studio and Service Victoria.

We are delighted they have joined our international community. You can see a full list of our members here.

We have offered our newly joined supplier members to include a short paragraph to introduce themselves to our member community. Here is what they have told us:

Blue Biometrics is a leader in mobile contactless biometrics for commercial and national security applications, through custom solutions and identiblue, the AI-fortfied reusable digital identity platform. Blue collaborates with other biometrics industry leaders and global tech companies to deliver world class solutions.

Corsound AI specialises in advanced voice intelligence solutions, offering cutting-edge technology in voice deepfake detection, voice-to-face matching, and identity verification. With a portfolio of over 200 patents, Corsound AI’s unique approach supports high-security applications across finance, law enforcement, telecommunications, remote communications, and more. The company’s proprietary technology enables the reconstruction of a facial image from voice data alone, providing a powerful solution to prevent fraud and enhance security in customer interactions and sensitive transactions.

At ezPassport Studio, we are committed to enhancing the accuracy and security of identification processes. By learning about how to use biometrics into our photo ID solutions, we aim to provide even more reliable and tamper-proof identification photographs. Our advanced systems, which already meet government standards for passport and ID photos, may one day seamlessly integrate biometric technology to ensure a higher level of security and precision, benefiting businesses, government agencies, and service providers in their efforts to safeguard identity verification.

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The report explores present and future applications while providing practical approaches to navigating biometrics technology. It emphasises the growing demand for transparency and accountability in biometric systems, showcasing how responsible development and deployment can achieve this. Real-world use cases highlight the importance of rigorous testing and offer valuable perspectives on ensuring biometric technologies respect privacy and build public trust.

The report draws on expertise and insights from Biometrics Institute members

• Next-generation biometric solutions for the masses: The transformative potential of biometric solutions for identity management, driven by the rapid advancement of AI is on the horizon. Members emphasise the need for close collaboration between industry, research, and policymakers to ensure the development and deployment of trusted and legally compliant solutions.
• Human expertise is not a backup, but an essential component: Members call for investment in training and collaboration between humans and AI to build systems that are not only efficient but also fair, inclusive, and trustworthy. The emphasis is on reinforcing, not replacing, human capabilities.
• The future of travel: While passports remain essential for now, use cases explore how biometrics are paving the way for seamless, contactless travel experiences. The increasing adoption of biometrics, coupled with initiatives like the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) focus on automating travellers experiences, suggests a future where travel is more efficient and secure. Members emphasise the importance of interoperability between biometric identity systems, particularly for international travel, ensuring smooth collaboration between airlines, airports, border agencies, and governments. It also highlights the need for seamless integration with existing systems to avoid friction and protect traveller data.
• Multimodal biometrics for enhanced security: The pursuit of enhanced security, accessibility, and public trust is driving the rise of multimodal biometrics, which combines technologies like facial recognition, voice and behavioural biometrics. Members highlight that this approach offers increased accuracy and fraud prevention, particularly in sectors like government services, financial institutions, and border control.
• Industry collaboration for seamless travel: The report highlights the strong alignment among governments, airlines, airports, and other industries to make secure, reliable, and ethical biometrics a practical reality. This collaborative effort is crucial for shaping the future of travel, making it easier, faster, and more secure.
• Facial recognition’s pivotal role: Facial recognition, alongside other biometric technologies, is recognised as a foundation for secure and seamless travel. Members emphasise that biometrics, particularly facial recognition, are here to stay and will redefine industry standards. However, this widespread adoption necessitates careful consideration of privacy and fairness. Biometric data, such as facial images, requires robust protection against misuse and unauthorised access to maintain public trust. Furthermore, addressing demographic differentials in biometric algorithms, particularly facial recognition, is crucial.  The report highlights ongoing efforts to create more inclusive models through diverse datasets, the use of generative AI for data augmentation, and the importance of standardisation and validation. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), through programmes like the Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT), plays a vital role in this effort, conducting rigorous biometric testing to identify top-performing algorithms. Continuous auditing and inclusive design practices, along with NIST evaluations, are essential to minimise discrepancies in error rates across demographic groups and promote the responsible adoption of biometrics.

The future of biometrics is bright

The Biometrics Institute encourages industry stakeholders, policymakers, and the public to engage in the ongoing conversation about responsible biometrics. The report serves as a valuable resource for understanding the current landscape and shaping the future of this transformative technology. This future must be guided by the principles of responsible biometrics, adhering to the Three Laws of Biometrics: Policy before process before technology. This ensures that ethical considerations and robust policies are in place to guide the development and implementation of processes and technologies, safeguarding individual rights and promoting public trust.

The Biometrics Concepts and Solutions Report: The future of responsible biometrics is freely available to download from the Biometrics Institute’s website.

For further thought leadership and deeper insights into biometrics trends, explore other resources available from the Biometrics Institute, including the State of Biometrics Report and the Annual Industry Survey.

ENDS

About the Biometrics Institute 

The Biometrics Institute is the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties. It was established in 2001 to promote the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics and has offices in London and Sydney. 

The member register which represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community now lists over 200 membership organisations from 41 countries. It includes banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics and 18 Observers representing United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institution. 

The Biometrics Institute connects the global biometrics community. It shares knowledge with its members and key stakeholders and most importantly, develops good practices and thought leadership for the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics. 

For more information, please email Marco Lombardi.

The post The future of responsible biometrics is here appeared first on Biometrics Institute.

The report explores biometric applications across many industry use cases

Featuring thought leadership from 30 of our supplier members, this report offers real-world insights and tested solutions. Submissions explore the ethical and responsible use of biometrics, both present and future, offering practical approaches to navigating the complexities of this rapidly advancing technology.

The report also highlights the importance of rigorous testing and showcases real-world use cases that provide valuable perspectives on ensuring biometric technologies respect privacy and build public trust in the technology. It addresses the growing demand for transparency and accountability in biometric systems, demonstrating how responsible development and deployment can achieve this.

Themes across the report include:

• AI
• Digital identity
• Demographic differentials and inclusion
• Data protection, ethics and privacy
• Standards and testing
• Education and training
• Remote identity and liveness
• Biometric capture
• Deepfakes and vulnerabilities
• Seamless travel and borders
• Finance
• Multimodal biometrics
• Governance and legislation

The Biometrics Institute does not endorse any of the submissions in the report but is sharing them for information purposes and to help generate discussion.

The post Members’ concepts and solutions for the future of responsible biometrics appeared first on Biometrics Institute.

Defending against deepfakes

The conversation addressed key questions surrounding the increasing adoption of multimodal biometrics, driven by the rise of digital identity and ongoing concerns about deepfakes. Participants discussed how to move forward responsibly, ethically, and effectively, stressing that multimodal biometrics offer a crucial solution to strengthen protections as it will be nearly impossible to prevent deepfakes. The discussion highlighted the Three Laws of Biometrics – policy before process before technology – underscoring the need for robust policies and well-defined processes to guide the implementation and use of biometric technologies, to ensure ethical considerations and data privacy are prioritised.

Technology is just one piece of the puzzle

Members discussed how much biometric technology has improved and what a critical role it has for example to solve crime.

“As problems continue to occur with misidentification, we need to remind ourselves of the Three Laws of Biometrics.” said Isabelle Moeller, CEO of the Biometrics Institute. “The problem with biometrics doesn’t lie with the technology but rather with the human e.g. a detective not following process. A facial recognition output is just a lead, and it needs to be put in context. People need to be better trained and follow the right policies and procedures that are in place. There is a lack of standards for verifying leads.”

Smarter attacks require smarter solutions

Multimodal biometrics offer a powerful solution for securing digital identity. However, implementation requires prioritising ethical considerations, data privacy, and robust security while maintaining user trust and convenience. Biometrics are tools, not silver bullets. We must avoid over-reliance on any single technology and instead embrace responsible innovation through ongoing dialogue and collaboration within the biometrics community.

Next generation multimodal solutions

A solutions insights session showcased cutting-edge developments in multimodal biometrics, with presentations from:

• Joseph Courtesis, Founder and President of JCour Consulting and member of the Biometrics Institute’s Technology Innovation Group

• Javier Barrachina, R&D Director, FacePhi on multi-biometrics for secure and ethical solutions and on applying the most suitable technologies for a user-centric multi-biometric approach that ensures compliance while enhancing privacy and reducing bias.

• Orly Shechtman, Director of Product Management, Corsound AI on voice intelligence technology and how multimodal biometrics can prevent generative AI deepfake fraud.
• Norman Poh, Chief Science Officer, Trust Stamp on multimodal biometrics that are privacy preserving and why multimodal biometric fusion works.
• Daniyal Chughtai, CTO, Facia on the role of multimodal biometrics in face liveness and deepfake detection for stronger identity verification. 

Addressing the challenges and opportunities of generative AI

Members provided valuable perspectives on the diverse applications of multimodal biometrics, ranging from enhancing security and ethical considerations to combating fraud and GenAI deepfakes. The event underscored the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing within the biometrics industry to address the complex challenges and opportunities presented by this rapidly evolving technology. Discussions included the use of AI to strengthen biometric systems against increasingly sophisticated deepfakes, the critical nature of privacy and data protection, and the need for laws to protect individuals from the misuse of deepfakes. The discussions showed that combining various biometric modalities, such as face, voice, fingerprint, behavioural, and other biometrics, holds significant potential for countering fraud, even in challenging environments.

The event concluded with an interesting proposal: Deepfakes exist, we won’t be able to prevent them. What is the responsibility of governments to protect their citizens from being “deepfaked”? Should they mandate protections and could these include biometrics as a tool for mitigation.

The Institute will continue to debate what good practices, policies and regulation for biometrics should look like. A next On the Pulse Conversation has already been confirmed asking the question: Facial Recognition in a Retail Environment, Clubs, Stadiums and Policing – Should the Same Standards Apply?

Industry trends and insights

The Biometrics Institute’s Annual Industry Survey highlighted the increasing prevalence of multimodal biometrics as the industry seeks enhanced security. The State of Biometrics Report, also delves into these trends, exploring the potential of artificial intelligence as both a fraud enabler and detector.

The Biometrics Institute remains committed to fostering responsible and ethical development and implementation of biometric technologies. To learn more about the Institute’s work and upcoming events, please visit the Institute’s event listing.

ENDS

About the Biometrics Institute 

The Biometrics Institute is the independent and impartial international membership organisation for biometric users and other interested parties. It was established in 2001 to promote the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics and has offices in London and Sydney. 

The member register which represents a global and diverse multi-stakeholder community now lists over 200 membership organisations from 41 countries. It includes banks, airlines, government agencies, biometric experts, privacy experts, suppliers, academics and 18 Observers representing United Nations agencies, IGOs and European Union institution. 

The Biometrics Institute connects the global biometrics community. It shares knowledge with its members and key stakeholders and most importantly, develops good practices and thought leadership for the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics. 

For more information, please email Marco Lombardi.

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