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recognising information - the future of biometrics
Identification, authentication and authorisation three words which sum up the use of biometric solutions, be they for homeland security, fighting crime or even a measure for identity management. Yet, both physiological and behavioural biometric technologies, such as automated face recognition, iris recognition and fingerprints are set to play an increasingly important role in our future...
The use of biometric technology is becoming increasingly important in both the areas of fighting crime and identity management. Taking a look first at the physiological biometrics for fighting crime, for instance with fingerprints. Whilst fingerprinting technology has been used within the police force for over 100 years, as pointed out by Dr Fred Preston, UK Director Identification Management & Security Solutions, Motorola, it provides a unique and unambiguous link to an individual. And even though there have been numerous developments in other physiological solutions such as facial and iris recognition systems Dr Preston, however, believes that it is fingerprint technology that is the key to driving biometric technology into the future. Each method of gathering identification can link individuals to recorded data thereby empowering the police in fighting crime.
Historically, identification via fingerprints has mainly been association with intelligence led policing. Dr Preston pointed out, “There is now a growing use of mobile fingerprint technology being used to combat vehicle crime. Some 60% of disqualified drivers don’t give their correct name, therefore fingerprints can identify the individual, which is one of the many uses that is generating the growth in mobile biometric technology.”
“Further more,” he said, “One of the advantages of using mobile fingerprint biometric technology is that information is extracted from the scanned fingerprint to form a template (algorithm) reducing the overall file size, meaning that the template can be stored on the device and/or transmitted without the need for high bandwidth. And enables the reassurance for individuals concerned about their fingerprints being maliciously being obtained and used.”
Scanning the database of templates typically takes about one to two minutes, or within seconds dependent upon the size and quantity the search is being made from. Dr Preston also believes that within a few years, the technology for gathering fingerprints will have evolved further so that devices don’t actually have to be touched and provide both 2d and 3d images helping reduce the element of spoofing. “There are already devices under development that don’t require physical touching, which will remove issues with some individuals who do not want to touch items.”
Discussing the issue further about the spoofing incidents, Dr Preston confirmed that the technology has further evolved to detect if a hand or finger is live, ie if it has been covered to mimic a different fingerprint.
The use of mobile fingerprinting techniques to capture, scan and identify are certainly a means to aid policing since it provides greater mobility levels to officers on the beat. In fact, when Prime Minister, Gordon Brown addressed the chief police officer conference in June, he suggested technology might help strike a balance between the demands of volume crime and the need to spend time tracking serious offenders, he asked forces and individual officers to put forward their suggestions as to a ‘wish list’ of technology such as mobile DNA and biometric devices. “We must do everything to give you the resources, especially the new technology you need to fight crime,” he said.
Border control
An advanced biometrics solution was deployed by Motorola for Cyprus National Police for identity management and criminal application. The solution, included the Motorola Printrak Biometrics Identification System (BIS) for large identity management applications with advanced matching and storage capabilities, palmprint identification, mobile biometrics and automated matching capabilities. Also deployed were 14 LiveScan (in desktop and ruggedised form factors) electronic fingerprinting systems at asylum centres and police stations throughout Cyprus. The solution provided Cyprus with an electronic interface connecting its AFIS to that of EURODAC – the EU’s database of fingerprints for identifying asylum-seekers (a requirement of EU membership).
These systems allow Cyprus to capture the fingerprints and facial images of individuals that have been stopped and found to be without valid visas/identification documents, or those that are claiming asylum. This information is transmitted to Cyprus’s central server at its National Law Enforcement headquarters in Nicosia and searched against its database.
Fingerprints of asylum seekers are also forwarded to EURODAC’s central database in Luxembourg to verify whether they have already claimed asylum in an EU member country.
Cyprus first installed an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) in 2000 for criminal purposes. Supplied by Motorola and implemented by local partner, GCC Computers, the AFIS replaced the manual ‘Henry’ system used to classify, file and compare fingerprints during criminal investigations.
AFIS automates the process of matching one, or many unknown fingerprints against an electronic database of known prints and results in faster and more efficient criminal investigations. In its first two years of operation, the National Police Force, which has 5000 staff and serves a population of 750,000, doubled the number of cases solved. Today, around 150 crimes are solved each year using the Motorola Printrak BIS.
Cyprus deployed Motorola Mobile AFIS devices for seamless connectivity of mission critical information. Motorola’s mobile component is used for immigration and asylum purposes or during routine checks by officers in the field.
Data captured by officers is transmitted via GPRS to the National Police Force’s high security, back-end system in Nicosia. Combining a smart card reader, a 500 dpi fingerprint sensor for the capture and instant matching of two-prints (i.e. both thumbs), these handheld biometric devices are a powerful tool for secure document verification at land and sea border crossings. “The LiveScans enable us to capture better quality fingerprints than using ink, while the electronic interface to EURODAC means that we get a much faster response than sending the prints manually. From the moment someone applies for asylum, we can have a response from EURODAC within hours,” commented Christos Drakos, IT Manager at the Cyprus National Police.
Multi-modal biometrics
With the ever increasing threat of terrorist activity, security levels at border controls are tightening further and biometrics is playing a major role. For instance it was reported at the end of June that the UK, Europe and the US are considering to strengthen border databases by the use of multiple forms of biometrics to identify people. Frank Paul, head of large-scale IT systems at the European Commission’s Directorate of Justice, Freedom and Security, speaking at a Homeland Security Conference last month, said, “I don’t believe there will ever be a situation where the world agrees to have one biometric technology. But, what we will have is the multi-modal environment.”
The aim is to share border intelligence and co-ordinate immigration processes. However, the problem arises in identifying compatible solution for the sharing of data, who manages the data and access levels. After all, it is a potential mine field just on a national level, on an international scale - is it a reality?
Identity management
Without a doubt, biometrics plays a major role in identity management, and not only for border control, but also in authentication in accessing data. With the ever increasing need to share data across multiple agencies, without technologies such as biometrics, users must rely on the confidence of the organisation worked for since the actual individual may not be known personally.
Take a major incident scenario, where multiple agencies are attending, there is a requirement to control users identities for access to data. However, the solution must be totally transparent and not hamper the emergency response, which is why biometrics can play a major role in identity management. The need to collaborate more and at increasingly higher levels of data sharing makes trusted identity even more critical. What’s more biometrics provide strong authentication which alleviates the problem of password access.
It is widely acknowledged that passwords can often be very easy to decode, and even more significantly passwords are often shared, therefore the use of biometric technology for authentication access ensures that an individual can’t sign on elsewhere if they are already accessing the system. Enline, for instance, has keyboards which have readers built into them for fingerprint recognition, yet the company is not suggesting that it is a panacea, but there are a number of suitable authentication methods that can be utilised dependent upon the environment, however, the use of fingerprint technology reduces the risk of mistaken identity when accessing mission critical data.
Next month we take a closer look at the convergence of physical and logical access and report on the recent pilot undertaken by West Midlands Police.
