The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced the general availability of facial recognition technology for Login.gov, its single sign-on platform for accessing federal services. This new identity verification option meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) 800-63-3 Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) standard, which requires either remote or in-person proofing. By adopting this technology, GSA aims to enhance security and accuracy in verifying the identities of individuals accessing federal services.
The facial recognition system functions through one-to-one matching, where users submit a live selfie to be compared with their government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license. The submitted images are used exclusively for identity verification and not for any other purposes. This rollout follows a successful pilot and addresses previous concerns about Login.gov’s compliance with IAL2 standards.
A 2023 Inspector General report revealed that the platform had misrepresented its adherence to these standards, relying on third-party verification instead of biometric comparisons. In response, GSA improved its system to meet the required compliance, with the facial recognition feature now independently certified.
The addition of this technology responds to requests from partner agencies handling high-risk cases that require stronger identity verification. The GSA has emphasized a commitment to equity, privacy, and transparency in the implementation of this system. Additionally, the agency is monitoring the technology for algorithmic bias to ensure it works effectively across diverse demographics.
Login.gov has been operational since 2017 and now supports over 300 million sign-ins annually for more than 50 federal and state agencies. For users unable to complete online verification, in-person options remain available at U.S. Postal Service locations.
Sources: FedScoop, Federal News Network, TechRadar
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October 15, 2024 – by the Mobile ID World Editorial Team
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