How facial recognition cameras identify you with AI

DW (English)

Facial recognition cameras use artificial intelligence to identify individuals based on unique facial features. But what technologies power this process – and how does it actually work?

Transcript

00:00Once a photo is taken, the software isolates your face from the background, removing anything

00:06else to focus solely on your facial features.

00:11Most facial recognition systems also use liveness detection.

00:14This checks for depth, movement and even the thermal or reflective qualities of human skin.

00:19It's designed to tell whether it's seeing a real person or just a photo or mask.

00:25Next, the software maps key features like your eyes, nose and mouth.

00:31These measurements are converted into a unique digital code, like a fingerprint, but for

00:36your face.

00:38That code is then compared against a facial features database.

00:44For authentication, like unlocking your phone, the system looks for an exact match.

00:51For identification, like finding a suspect in a police database, it searches for the

00:55closest match instead.

01:00But the systems aren't perfect.

01:04In complex situations like large crowds, poor light conditions or partially covered faces,

01:11their accuracy drops and the error rate is significantly higher for people with darker skin, increasing

01:18the risk of false positives.

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