A dual
approach that employs both fingerprint and facial recognition
technology is the best option for a biometric system that
would make the nation's borders more secure, according to
scientists at the Department of Commerce's National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST).
After
studying mature biometric technologies, NIST-in conjunction
with the Departments of Justice and State-made the recommendation
in a report recently transmitted to Congress. The study was
mandated by the PATRIOT Act and the Enhanced Border Security
Act.
NIST's
Information Technology Laboratory
(ITL) spearheaded evaluations to determine the ability of
biometrics to enhance border security. The evaluations looked
at two applications: the first is positively identifying visa
applicants and the second is verifying that the holder of
a visa is the person to whom the visa was issued.
Fingerprint
performance was measured on an Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) database of 1.2 million prints of 620,000 individuals.
The Face Recognition Vendor Tests (FRVT) 2002 measured face
recognition performance of 10 vendors on a Department of State
database of 121,000 images of 37,000 individuals.
Based
on the evaluations, as well as practical considerations, NIST
recommends (1) the use of at least two fingerprints to positively
identify visa applicants and (2) a dual system of face and
fingerprints to verify the identities of visa holders at points
of entry into the United States.
NIST
managed the FRVT 2002 with sponsorship and support from the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); Departments
of Defense, Justice and State; and other federal agencies.
More information is available at www.frvt.org,
and results are expected to be posted in February 2003. The
complete NIST appendix to the report to Congress is available
at www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.03/NISTAPP_Nov02.pdf.
In its
evaluation of possible future border crossing systems, NIST
noted that each fingerprint or facial image would require
10 kilobytes or less of computer memory storage. A card with
32-kilobyte storage capacity could store two fingerprints
and a facial image, and many existing smart cards easily could
do the job. NIST also recommends that any future visa system
incorporate several existing information technology standards
and specifications.
For example,
biometric information could be scrambled using public key
infrastructure (PKI) systems that incorporate the Digital
Signature Standard. This information scrambling would make
the system tamper resistant.
The information
could be stored in cards that meet the Government Smart Card
Interoperability Specification. Additionally, the data could
be stored in a way that meets existing standards already used
by law enforcement agencies to store fingerprint and mug shot
information.
NIST
scientists and engineers have a great deal of experience in
using computers to match images automatically. NIST's ITL
has worked extensively with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
to speed up and automate fingerprint matching systems, and
also has evaluated previous facial recognition systems.
As a
non-regulatory agency of the US Department of Commerce's Technology
Administration, NIST develops and promotes measurement, standards
and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade and
improve the quality of life.
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