Today’s posting deals with the e-Passport . . . .
Biometrics In Taiwan
Apparently, Taiwan is now the 60th country (actually, to my surprise) to adopt and make use of the e-Passport. The e-Passport to be adopted by Taiwan will utilize Biometric Technology, and Facial Recognition will be the primary Biometric employed. For example, " . . . The most distinctive feature of an ePassport is the contactless chip embedded in the end cover. Passport bearer’s biographical data and facial image are stored in the chip, which cannot be altered once personalized. Therefore, chances of forgery can be greatly reduced." (SOURCE: http://www.findbiometrics.com/article/638).
However, the use of Fingerprint Recognition and/or Iris Recognition will not be utilized. The primary advantage for use of the e-Passport is to process in a quicker amount of time the people who want to enter into Taiwan.
Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting
I seriously wonder why Fingerprint Recognition or Iris Recognition is not being used in this e-Passport. This is the standard used in e-Passports adopted by other countries. So to me, it would be important to keep up with the trend of what is being adopted by International Airports worldwide, rather than adopting something a Biometric Technology that is not being used as much in the e-Passport. In my opinion, the e-Passport should contain at least two or three Biometric Templates for maximum Security. However, all of these Biometric Templates should of different Physical Characteristics. For example, an e-Passport could utilize all three different types of Biometric Templates: Fingerprint, Facial, and Iris.
Also, while writing this post, two thoughts crossed my thinking. First, the Facial Recognition Template, once stored into the chip of the e-Passport, cannot be changed. In my opinion, this can be a very serious Security Risk. For instance, if the person gains or loses weight, the Facial Recognition Template will be rendered useless. Therefore, the person trying to get into the country (this is assuming of course that the person in question is "legitimate") could be denied acceptance. Also, since the Facial Recognition Template cannot be altered, a similar looking person could potentially steal the e-Passport in order to gain entry. In fact, this is one of the flaws of Facial Recognition-it’s inability to take into account changes into the structure of the face, whether it be weight loss or weight gain, or even facial hair.
Second, an advantage of Facial Recognition is that to a certain degree, it can Verify and/or Identify individuals from a distance. The Biometric Template in the chip of the e-Passport only allows for Verification/Identification at short distances. In my opinion, the e-Passport should be able to be Verified and/or Identified from a much greater distance. By utilizing a greater distance, the lines at airports could be potentially reduced and processed in an even shorter time. However, in order to insure Security because of the greater distance, an Encrypted Transmission Signal could be developed and utilized from the distance between the Passport Reader and the Facial Recognition Template in the chip of the e-Passport. As a result, this should help from Biometric Data being intercepted, while in transit.
Source for this Posting: http://www.findbiometrics.com/article/638
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