Biometrics in New Zealand Passport issuing Border crossing System and information access Building access

ICAO STANDARDS In May 2003 ICAO adopted a global harmonised blueprint for the integration of biometric identification information into MRTD’s Facial recognition was selected as the globally interoperable biometric for machine-assisted identity confirmation with MRTDs. Fingerprint and IRIS technology can also be used as an optional addition to facial recognition High-capacity, contactless integrated circuit (IC) chips selected to store identification information in MRTDs A specially developed logical data structure (LDS) will provide a framework for programming data to ensure interoperability of travel documents A modified public key infrastructure (PKI) scheme will provide security of data stored in the IC chip against unauthorized alteration or access.

U S Border Control Legislation Visa Waiver Requirements –NZ wishes to retain US Visa Waiver status –Work is underway to enable the issue of passports that incorporate biometric and document authentication identifiers from October 2004 –The new passport will incorporate Contact-less Chip technology to allow for the electronic storage of the holder’s portrait/s plus other data already displayed visually on the passport. –The new passport will enabe border control authorites to electronically check the documents authenticity and match the holder to the document using facial recognition technology

New Zealand Passport Office Biometric Testing Programme The use of Facial Recognition Technology in Passport Application Processing

Biometrics Test Programme Outcome To assess the suitability of facial recognition technology for use in NZ travel document issuance processes Why Facial Recognition Technology? –Minimal impact on the customer as Passports already collects a photo –More socially acceptable in NZ –Passports Database already holds an image of all current passport holders –Aligns well with emerging international standards

Background Testing programme commenced in February 2002 and is ongoing –due to the rapid evolution of the technology (not backward compatible) and self imposed privacy constraints the programme has continued well beyond original timeframes A test of the technology not simply of vendors products Approximately 2.6 million images in the test database The Programme is internationally recognised in the ICAO community and is being monitored by a number of US agencies (e.g DHS and the White House Technology Group)

Specific Test Programme Objectives Specifically, we are seeking to establish whether acceptable performance can be achieved in the following key areas The suitability of our current database of images for conversion to facial recognition templates Enrolment from a photograph supplied by the applicant, including the identification of best practice One to one matching (verification) of renewal photographs against existing image templates including the effects of aging One to many matching (identification) for images held under different identities (accuracy and search speed are the key factors) Image template storage and retrieval

Overview of Results (to date) Current database images are suitable for use with facial recognition technology Photos submitted by applicants are suitable for use with facial recognition technology One to one testing indicates that accuracy (probability of correct verification) up to ten years averaged 92.4%. Accuracy decreases with increasing elapsed time. –Comparison of image templates captured within the same year produced accuracy levels of 97% however in the tenth year accuracy dropped to 88%

Further Results (to date) Early results of one to many testing indicates that we can accurately identify a person posing as another 60% of the time when compared with 2.6 million others Adding gender and age-band filters increases performance to around 78% One to many searches can be carried out inside four seconds on a database of 2.6 million

Further Development & Testing Filtering to improve accuracy of fraud detection 3D modeling of the facial image Image capture –optical image vs digital scanning Test in operational mode Report findings to international ICAO community Assess suitability for implementation

Questions and Discussion