Ensuring Data Protection Compliance in Facial Recognition Technology

Did you know facial recognition systems are widely used for physical access control? They also raise important privacy issues caused by biometric data processing. Businesses on a larger scale use the FRT to check the system’s execution and GDPR to confirm compliance.  However, this system retains the distinctive facial features and contrasts them against the stored data of individuals for identity purposes. It reduces the wait time to get the access points. 

Furthermore, the FRT execution demands the useful examination of various GDPR rules—-including lawful basis, user consent, transparency, and data magnification. To brilliantly incorporate facial recognition into the restriction of the access system, every business should initiate a privacy impact assessment and set strong security estimations to defend the user’s data. 

Facial Recognition Technology

A technology that recognizes a person by checking his distinctive facial features is known as a facial recognition system (FRT). In terms of working mechanisms, it is different from other biometric systems, such as fingerprints or iris recognition technology. The main reason for being unique is that FRT works inactively and demands low user interaction, which is ideal for real-time apps in the public and private sectors. 

The FRT was famous for security and law enforcement but now this technology has extensively expanded into different fields. For instance, airport check-ins can use this system to increase customized shopping experiences. It examines the facial aspects from different sources, like photos, videos, or live feeds, and then converts them into digital code, afterwards, it contrasts with the stored information for verification. 

Furthermore, the use of facial identification systems is also growing alongside its privacy concerns and data protection, particularly, in some rules like GDPR. However, some businesses are using this technology to ensure the best compliance while highlighting concerns such as data protection, user consent, and biometric data’s save storage to shun any misuse. 

How Facial Recognition Technology Works

Several people consider facial recognition technology the use of FaceID to open their iPhones, but you’ll find more real-life examples than this. In multiple cases, the system usually doesn’t depend on the huge photo storage, rather, it identifies the user as the real owner and protects the access from unauthorized persons. 

This technology can recognize the persons by contrasting their faces to the database in the watch lists. The list can involve anyone, even people who are not involved in any misconduct, and their photos are in a database from different sources, like social media. Face identification systems typically function by taking images of individuals as they pass by cameras and then matching those images to existing records. Although the specifics of each system may differ, the majority operate similarly by scanning and comparing distinct facial features to confirm a person’s identity. Let’s discuss some of its working mechanisms.

Step 1: Face Detection and Localization

The system begins by detecting and identifying faces in an image, whether it’s an individual or part of a larger group. Using advanced algorithms, it analyzes the image to see if the subject is facing forward, looking to the side, or partially hidden. Regardless of whether the face is moving or still, the technology accurately locates it. In addition to basic detection, the camera’s facial recognition security system enhances this process, ensuring high-quality image capture and reducing errors. It also filters out non-facial objects in complex settings, which helps improve the accuracy of face identification for better outcomes.

Step 2: Face Analysis

Once a face is detected, an image is taken and analyzed. Most facial recognition systems use 2D images because they are simpler to match with public photos or database entries. The software examines the face geometry, concentrating on specific landmarks like the distance between the eyes, the depth of the eye sockets, and the distance from the forehead to the chin. Other key features include the shape of the cheekbones and the lip contouring, ears, and chin. These details help create a unique profile for identifying faces, allowing for differentiation between individuals.

Step 3: Image Transformation into Data

The next step involves converting the captured image into a digital code, commonly known as a faceprint. Then it interprets the distinctive characteristics of your face as numeric data, which allows it to work well because it compares with the provided facial structure in the database. Similar to how a thumbprint is converted into a fingerprint pattern. This faceprint serves as your unique identifier, allowing the system to compare it with other images. Each faceprint is as different as a fingerprint; nothing is the same for any two faceprints.

Step 4: Face Matching

One then proceeds to match a faceprint to a library of known faces after generating one. For instance, organizations like the FBI and social media platforms such as Facebook maintain millions of photos for comparison purposes. If there is a match between the newly recorded faceprint and a picture in its database, then the face matching process of the person is confirmed. The strength of facial recognition technology allows it to manage extensive datasets while still accurately identifying individuals. 

This verification of face identification opens up various applications, ranging from law enforcement to personal security. Facial recognition is regarded as one of the most user-friendly biometric technologies, as we instinctively recognize people by their faces. Today, this technology impacts more than half of the global population regularly, from unlocking smartphones to enhancing public security systems.

Key Applications of Facial Recognition

Facial recognition technology and GDPR are closely connected in safeguarding user data. However, before proceeding further, it’s essential to explore the primary applications of FRT.

Monitoring Employee Attendance

It examines the attendance procedure of employees—a novel and major application of the facial recognition system, which does not involve contacting the direct person. From the hygienic perspective, it is evident, and one of the important reasons why businesses are opting for the FRT. Today, many businesses are getting interested in switching from touch-based biometric attendance systems to facial recognition time and attendance systems, primarily owing to the new diseases spreading across the world in recent times.

Law Enforcement and Crime Protection

Even a retail camera can get a quick notification from a law enforcement organization that suspects a person through the FRT. This system will access the store’s facial prints databases and then identify the person from the previous storage. Law enforcement needs to update their identification systems to pace with the ongoing advancements in facial recognition technology.

Access Control

The applications of facial recognition technology rigorously limit the specific place or device’s access. So, FRT in such cases, will provide access to any two employees, residents, or pre-registered people. Some devices like elevators, online locks, and door access are the best and most common uses. 

Fintech Operations

According to the sources, it is an auspicious year for FRT applications – at least in the scenario of financial transactions through smartphones as well as e-wallet services. The use of facial biometrics for payment-related transactions reduces the risk factor associated with identity theft. Each service offered by this technology is equipped with robust protection against fraud and identity theft, rapid and seamless identity verification processes, and secure transactions.  

Social Media Profile Verification

Content handling and online privacy become serious issues for the current social media platforms. Currently, one of the methods to fight online fraud, email spam, and cyberbullying that is being researched is through profile authentication. Before this, verifying profiles was time-consuming and tended to be subject to human errors. But with facial recognition technology and other more complex machine learning methods, profile authentication has been fast and reliable in filtering fake accounts and fraudulent activities.

Hospital Management

More hospitals are now applying face recognition apps, mainly in nursing homes, to improve patient comfort and security. It helps monitor activities in the hospital, thus making the space safe. Moreover, facial recognition security can identify and locate any patient leaving the healthcare center without proper identification, thus saving him from the risks that may eventually befall him.

Smart Retailing

Targeted marketing, successful customer service, and payment processing are the major aims of facial recognition technology for retail shops. In-store facial recognition devices may identify customers and notify employees. This alert can comprise the name of the customer, his preferences, and also relevant special offers for better security of the overall process.

Why Data Protection Compliance & FRT Matters to Businesses

Data protection compliance is one of the most important things for any company or organization because they manage a huge amount of personal data. It is an ethical and legal duty to save personal information, like customer details, and employee data, or keep client records. Resistance to GDPR compliance levels can cause extreme results, such as heavy fines and prison sentences.

In turn, the protection of personal information ensures that their business information does not fall into other’s hands because of fraudulent means. The above statements bring in the customers’ confidence while acquiring help for compliance, and ultimately this will ensure long-term relations with customers. Failure to properly adhere to data protection rules can tarnish the reputation of the company, as well as cause them to get entangled in legal issues. The company not getting a fine is not one point regarding data protection, but rather the company should keep their customers’ information confidential as much as possible.

Data Protection Law Secures Biometric Details

Biometric privacy laws require businesses to handle biometric information—-fingerprints or face recognition data alongside huge safety to protect against any planned leaks. Technical and organizational will assist the businesses in protecting the sensitive information by applying the safety policies. Let’s discuss some of the important steps that assist companies to fight against possible risks. 

• Data management
• Harm from access
• System vulnerabilities

Biometric data requires robust security levels, important yet continuous testing, and successful calculations, for example, transformed and physical access standards. Companies must contemporize personnel and appoint strong information safety policies. Besides, the third-party processors must scrutinize the highest levels and continuous vulnerability checks, ensuring a fast response to any threat.  

UK GDPR and its Impact on Facial Recognition

For organizations, GDPR compliance is one of the most essential components that can easily manage personal information, especially alongside the Data Protection Act. Also, these laws ensure that confidential information, like biometric data, is safely managed. 

• Certification Schemes: The Data Protection Act provides the authority to the Information Commissioner’s Office to recognize certification providers. But still, there is no robust scheme provided for all UK-based organizations.
• Compliance Challenges: Several organizations started the task forces to encounter compliance limits in May 2018. However,  these organizations are finding it challenging to confirm the status as business pressure is also evolving. 
• Best Practices: The British Standards BS 10012 facilitates a structure for handling sensitive or personal information that connects with the GDPR rules making it amazing points for businesses to start. 
• External Audits: This will give you valuable insight into the state of your compliance and best practices so that you meet both your internal policies and regulatory standards.
• Ongoing Commitment: GDPR Compliance is not a single exercise but rather a constantly analyzing and updating the effort to keep pace with ever-changing needs for data protection.

U.S. Regulations and CCPA Compliance

Furthermore, the California Privacy Act discusses biometric data prevention, for instance, facial recognition technology. Also, this act delivers that using the FRT like personal information helps in identifying the people. Moreover, in 2020, some companies also started handling biometric data for covering businesses by following the robust rules of CCPA. 

• The California Privacy Act instructs that every business provides the California resident with the rights to their data. It must have the access ability, to remove, and change its information while having the sales data.
• Companies that don’t safeguard this information could be liable to penalties. These penalties include fines to the extent of $100-$750 per affected consumer per breach.
• In addition, it protects biometric data which includes unique identifiers of individuals, like facial features, fingerprints, iris patterns, and gait.
• This law applies to businesses with more than $25 million in revenue, businesses collecting personal data from 50,000 individuals or devices, or companies deriving more than half of their revenue from selling personal information.
• In Washington, the same laws also protect biometric data, including a requirement that consent must be obtained from the consumer before facial recognition technology is used, and there must be regular risk assessments.

Best Practices for Achieving Compliance with FACIA

The facial recognition system with GDPR observance provides a safe and the best transformation from the old security methods to modern ones to provide protection. Face searching and 1:1 matching are some of the best features that incorporate GDPR-compliant algorithms while maintaining user privacy. Therefore, FACIA provides quick identity verification via liveness detection and successfully protects users from any fraud attempt to avoid biometric checks. Also, this solution is created in a way to secure confidential information while showing off the error-free matching precision in a huge database. Besides, facial recognition technology is fulfilling the GDPR’s strong privacy requirements, providing useful and strong safety.