I just read an
article called “MasterCard
unveils 'selfie' security checks, says heartbeat authentication could follow”
in the Verge today. I have to say that
the title of this article catches my attentions in the first place. People who have iPhones probably already get
used to the fingerprint technology to authenticate your identity. You can use your fingerprint to access
accounts, make payments and do various other actives. The key reason behind this technology is that
everyone has his or her own unique fingerprint.
However, I am curious to know how “selfie” can be used to giver user the
authentication. As we all know that
makeup can totally change the look of a person.
In order to
use selfie pay, users need to download MasterCard’s app and enter credit card
information. When they make payments, users will hold the device up to their
face and take a quick photo. The key point is that users have to blink to prove
that they’re not holding a photograph in front of the camera. Also, the algorithms can identify whether the
person is using a video or not. Besides
the facial recognition, the MasterCard company also looks into heartbeat
recognition: a sensor can read the unique electrical signal produced by their
heat. Based on the words from MasterCard’s president of enterprise security
solutions, the facial recognition will roll out in next 12 months.
The idea of
facial recognition was seen in different movies and fictions. I also have heard about the facial recognition
is used in Arizona’s border control office to identify any suspicious person. But this is my first time to see the
comprehensive used of facial recognition.
Although the actual selfie pay does not come out yet, I believe it will
lead a new trend of identity authentication.
However, I
do feel like there are couple weakness or bugs may involve in this
technology. First, the accuracy of the
facial recognition is a problem. As I mentioned earlier, makeup can totally
change a person’s appearance sometime.
Also, twin even siblings may be a problem. Second, the article said that
the algorithms could tell when someone is trying to fool the system by using a
video. I am not sure what kind of algorithms is that. But if the engineers can
create the algorithms to distinct the video, there is a possibility that
someone can create different algorithms to mass up the exiting algorithms or
fool the camera.
I like this
article is because it is a new technology and can help the company to create a different
value proposition. If the customer
feedback for this technology is great, I can image the facial recognition will
be used in so many other areas.
Although facial recognition isn't perfect, it can offer more detail than fingerprints. You mentioned the border patrol using facial scans. I thought I would provide a link to that detail. For the first time on the U.S. southern border, authorities have started conducting facial and iris scans on foreigners entering the country. This is in the Tucson news, but thought I'd go to the San Diego Union for the article, since this is being done in Otay Mesa. As the article points out, Under a pilot program launched Thursday at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is gathering biometric data from most non-U.S. citizens entering through the pedestrian lanes. Starting in February, the agency plans to also record their departure. The article has pictures of what this looks like.
ReplyDeleteUnder a congressional mandate, the effort is aimed at finding (the wording in the text is "cracking down on") those who remain in the United States with expired visas. I suppose we shall see how effective (and enforceable) this is moving forward.
Thank you for sharing the article and give more information about how facial recognition was used in real life case. As an international student who enter and left the country several times already. I have to say that the various security check and custom investigation is such a pain. I understand the important of homeland security. But sometime, I do feel like all these high technologies encroach on my personal privacy and right. And it gets worse and worse.
ReplyDeleteThey absolutely do. And once you enter the country, they can keep tabs on you because finger prints, retina scans are digital.
DeleteIn my opinion, facial recognition not only offers more detail than fingerprints but also provides more secure method for making payments. In fact, I remembered that Dr. Hashim showed us video about how criminals could steal your identification by simulate your fingerprint from your devices or POS machine. It is true that facial recognition involves weakness from many perspective, such as inconvenient to use for payment, however, this technology still have space to improve to make this method more appropriate in making daily transactions
ReplyDelete