Face recognition technology has become a common feature in our daily lives and is used to secure our personal devices and security cameras. It has a broader application in the security industry, where it is used by border agencies and employers to grant access to sensitive information and monitor working hours. To ensure the highest level of accuracy and reliability of the technology, recognized authorities conduct algorithm evaluations. Who are these authorities, and what is the rationale behind conducting these evaluations?
What authorities evaluate face recognition technology?
One of the most prominent authorities in evaluating biometric technologies, including face recognition, is the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The institute is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and focuses on the large-scale evaluation of, for example, the Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT), which assesses the algorithms and grants them scores to mark their reliability and accuracy.
The algorithm can be scored in the categories of verification and identification. The rank includes the vendors who provide the most accurate algorithm for 1:1 verification border control supervised and unsupervised, and recognition accuracy with face masks. A vendor with a FRTE evaluation high score is recognized as trustworthy, offering accurate and robust technology. To find more details check the FRTE evaluation example see here.
In Europe, it is worth mentioning the European Association for Biometrics (EAB), is focused on advancing the field of biometrics. It organizes events, workshops, and competitions to evaluate biometric technologies, including face recognition, and promotes best practices in the deployment and use of biometric systems.
Assessment of Accuracy and Reliability
Face recognition technology is known for its high accuracy and reliability. However, it faces several challenges in recognizing faces belonging to diverse demographics, different angles and lighting conditions. Despite these challenges, it is crucial for the technology to function flawlessly, especially when it comes to identifying individuals at borders, tracking criminals, or finding missing people. In such scenarios, the accuracy of the algorithms plays a critical role, as human lives often depend on it. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the authorities ensure that the face recognition system is highly accurate and reliable. For example, Neurotechnology’s FRTE evaluation showcases the company’s reliability and that their algorithms are among the top contenders in the field.
Security and Vulnerability
Vendors should prioritize protecting their face recognition databases from spoofing attacks, adversarial manipulation, and data tampering. To mitigate the risks associated with face recognition systems, authorities conduct security assessments. To ensure the efficacy of face recognition technology in protecting critical assets and infrastructure, authorities must enhance the security posture of the technology.
