Illinois DMVs are using facial recognition biometrics with their database of driver’s license pictures to help stop driver’s license fraud, according to a Government Technology article. While Illinois was the first to implement this program in 1997, since then roughly 20 other states have created similar programs.
The project was put into action through the Illinois Driver Services and Secretary of State Police Departments with technology from Viisage, now L-1 Identity Systems. The company assisted with the building of a database containing biometric facial information and then applied its FaceExplorer application to compare all information to look for duplicates under different names. Any matches the software finds are sent to the Secretary of State Driver Services Fraud Unit which further determines whether or not it is a case of identity fraud.
California employs fingerprint biometrics within their Department of Motor Vehicles though the state does not use the system to actively check for fraud. As programs like the one in Illinois have shown positive outcomes from their program, California is now looking to adopt the facial recognition as well.
Read the full article here. ![[end]](/resources/bullet/secureidnews-4.gif)
