Digital Identity Verification as your most secure password
Can you imagine a vacation or a business trip where you can board a plane, check in and pay for hotel expenses, and rent a car just by looking at a smartphone? Have you thought about the convenience of making a payment or checking in at buildings, all without the need for a credit card or access card? What about arriving in another country without having to show your passport at immigration controls?
In a globalized world where digital transformation is advancing at full speed, this is already possible thanks to identity verification technology. The technology is already spearheading the way in several countries around the world and Mexico has joined this trend. You probably already use identity verification as a key to access your bank account from a mobile application, which is just one of thousands of possibilities offered by this technology.
Digital identity verification is consolidating in a society that tends to seek a seamless, consistent, and secure way to perform daily tasks, without losing sight of a fundamental aspect: security. “Identity verification solutions need to balance risk with modern digital consumer needs and expectations. Biometrics as the primary or sole means of verification takes the onus of authentication away from the user, whilst maintaining the elevated levels of security that people and organizations expect,” says Ricardo Amper, CEO and Founder of Incode.
“At the core of an iconic digital identity verification solution is the capacity to “orchestrate” multiple dynamic data sets to not only detect and deter fraud, but also to deliver an outstanding customer experience, which reduces online friction, converts more applicants to customers, and increases retention rates. This also extends beyond initially considered use cases to a growing variety of industries, further validating the increasing trust being instilled in these systems.” It can streamline operations at airports, but also improve democratic transparency in electoral processes through electronic voting. In Mexico, digital identity verification is emerging as a valuable tool to strengthen security at soccer matches, as proposed by Liga MX as a requirement for all clubs in the 2022-2023 season. “The use of AI to verify someone’s identity can completely revolutionize how people attend events,” says Ricardo Amper. “It’s now time to change the processes we’ve had in place for years – from paper tickets to long wait times – and give people safe, seamless, and enjoyable experiences.”
Another example of the versatility of this development is that today it is possible to prove the identity of a notary public digitally to perform an online deed, open an account or apply for a credit card or for investment transactions in cryptocurrencies. This is a sign that processes that used to be compulsorily done in person, such as having to go to the bank and stand in line to deposit a check, can now be completed remotely with the assurance that digital identity verification offers the most secure password with just a snapshot of your face.
For these reasons, face identity verification technology and other biometric applications are experiencing exponential growth. According to Statista, a portal specializing in statistics, the market for biometric technologies will grow steadily over the next few years to reach $55.42 billion by 2027.
The accelerated growth of digital identity verification also brings challenges on the horizon. It is essential not to lose sight of key aspects to ensure the security and privacy of users in the implementation of this tool and, on the other hand, to address the public’s concerns about these platforms and technologies. “The positive impact that AI and biometrics can have will be substantially limited if there is a lack of trust in how the technology is used. Users need to be sure that privacy is a top priority, and that their data is safe from theft or exploitation. With AI technology, we can create a smooth, secure, and privacy-enabled identity verification process in which people themselves will be the only documentation needed to verify their identity, an approach central to Incode’s “One Identity Everywhere” future.”
In this sense, we want to highlight four aspects that any face identity verification technology must consider:
- Security and privacy of personal data. The technology must comply with the highest security and encryption standards to prevent any type of vulnerability, hacking or improper use of the information by third parties.
- Observance of the law. There must be guidelines and protocols strictly attached to the data protection of users, who must invariably authorize the use of their information only for the required purposes.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI). Automated information processing without human intervention guarantees efficiency by not being influenced by a “criterion” shaped by beliefs or customs. This also contributes to the optimization and speed of the process.
- Passive liveness detection. Technology must allow the validation of persons with a high degree of accuracy, reliability, and speed, preventing possible impersonation through the use of photographs, holograms or inanimate images for verification. Technology must guarantee an authentication process with “live” and real people.
We would also add the relevance of the technology provider being the owner of the technology, which makes it possible to concentrate and safeguard the processes without depending on third parties and to adapt the platform to the needs of each project or industry in a practical and efficient manner. In addition, there are a few companies that have security guidelines endorsed by relevant organizations, with Incode being recognized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for its high level of accuracy and speed in generating biometric templates.
Every day more and more sectors are joining the use of digital identity verification, such as fintech, sports, hospitals, aviation, hotels, shopping malls, and insurance companies, among others. Companies in these sectors consider it a tool with a high level of security, reliability, and speed, which reduces fraud and identity theft. It is no longer fiction, right now our face can be the most secure access for personal identification, which will be used at all times, in all places and in all types of transactions, revolutionizing the way we interact with institutions and companies to make our daily lives easier and safer.