Contemporary methods for identity verification represent a significant advancement over earlier techniques, yet those reliant on visual inspections leave room for improvement. Here’s why:
Clever fraudsters are continuously honing their craft. They expertly craft replicas of genuine documents and produce sophisticated fakes that go undetected by human eyes.
Agents from various companies are bound by a rigorous protocol during live video verifications. Actions such as flexing documents or checking for security features in specific light conditions are necessary to affirm the document’s authenticity. These methods are not only labor-intensive but also resource-heavy.
These challenges present a major hurdle for organizations aiming to streamline their identity verification processes while maintaining stringent security standards. This is where NFC (Near Field Communication) technology steps in as an effective solution. It enables electronic scanning and retrieval of information from microchips embedded within identity documents. This approach has gained widespread adoption, with nearly one billion e-passports in global circulation equipped with chips that hold the bearer’s personal data.
Agents from various companies are bound by a rigorous protocol during live video verifications. Actions such as flexing documents or checking for security features in specific light conditions are necessary to affirm the document’s authenticity. These methods are not only labor-intensive but also resource-heavy.
These challenges present a major hurdle for organizations aiming to streamline their identity verification processes while maintaining stringent security standards. This is where NFC (Near Field Communication) technology steps in as an effective solution. It enables electronic scanning and retrieval of information from microchips embedded within identity documents. This approach has gained widespread adoption, with nearly one billion e-passports in global circulation equipped with chips that hold the bearer’s personal data.
NFC‘s implications extend to standard Know Your Customer (KYC) measures adopted by many companies when onboarding new clients. Out of the 3.2 billion active smartphones today, approximately 2 billion are NFC-equipped. The increasing uptake reflects a consumer shift towards self-verification services and apps. As mobile onboarding becomes transformative, NFC aids existing identity verification solutions by introducing more secure methods while improving the user experience. It assures customers of the process’s validity and reduces operational costs for the businesses.
NFC-embedded IDs empower governments and private entities to forge a robust, trusted network, curbing, and potentially eradicating identity theft in real-time. The assurance that an NFC-integrated identity document is tamper-proof comes from the alignment of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) on the document with the data extracted from the chip. Additionally, facial biometric verification can corroborate the facial image of the document holder with the one retrieved from the chip.
Furthermore, users have the convenience of confirming their identities from anywhere, using just their identity documents and an NFC-enabled smartphone.
NFC-Driven Identity Verification Process
For entities to leverage NFC technology effectively, they need to orchestrate an identity verification process that caters to individuals possessing chip-embedded IDs and smartphones with NFC capabilities. Here is a breakdown of a potential verification procedure:
For entities to leverage NFC technology effectively, they need to orchestrate an identity verification process that caters to individuals possessing chip-embedded IDs and smartphones with NFC capabilities. Here is a breakdown of a potential verification procedure:
Individuals initiate the process by capturing an image of their ID.
The system then determines if the individual’s smartphone and ID are NFC-compatible.
Upon confirming NFC support, the individual is prompted to bring their phone into contact with the ID.
The system then fetches data (such as the name, document number, and date of issuance) from the NFC chip in the ID and compares it with the details gleaned from the image.
This rapid chip reading drastically cuts down on verification time, thereby enhancing the user experience and streamlining the entire identity confirmation process.
The system then determines if the individual’s smartphone and ID are NFC-compatible.
Upon confirming NFC support, the individual is prompted to bring their phone into contact with the ID.
The system then fetches data (such as the name, document number, and date of issuance) from the NFC chip in the ID and compares it with the details gleaned from the image.
This rapid chip reading drastically cuts down on verification time, thereby enhancing the user experience and streamlining the entire identity confirmation process.
