Interpol Facial recognition

The INTERPOL Facial Recognition System (IFRS) contains facial images received from more
than 160 countries which makes it a unique global criminal database.
More than 650 criminals, fugitives, persons of interest or missing persons have been
identified since the launch of INTERPOL’s Facial Recognition System at the end of 2016.
fFACTORS IN FACIAL IDENTIFICATION
Unlike fingerprints and DNA, which do not change during a person’s life, Facial Recognition
has to take into account different factors, such as:
■ Ageing
■ Plastic surgery
■ Cosmetics
■ Effects of drug abuse or smoking
■ Pose of the subject
Working with good quality images is also crucial. Low or medium quality images may
be not searchable in the IFRS system and, if they are, the accuracy of the search and the
results themselves can be significantly affected.
An ICAO standard passport photo would be ideal, since this is a frontal image of the
subject that has even lighting on the face and a neutral background.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
When a facial image (probe image) is entered into the system it is automatically encoded
by an algorithm and compared to the profiles already stored in the system. This results in
a ‘candidate’ list of the most likely matches.
We always carry out a manual process – we call this Face Identification – to verify the
results of the automated system. Qualified and experienced INTERPOL officers examine
the images carefully to find unique characteristics that can lead to one of the following
results: ‘Potential candidate’, ‘No candidate’ or ‘Inconclusive’.
This information is then passed on to the countries that provided the images, and to those
that would be concerned by the profile or a match. All information is handled in line with
INTERPOL’s Rules on the Processing of Data.
fCROSS-CHECKING WITH INTERPOL NOTICES
All face images in Notices and Diffusions requested by member countries are searched
and stored in the Face Recognition system, provided they meet the strict quality criteria
needed for recognition.

Member countries can also request a ‘search only’ in the face system, for example, to
carry out a check on a person of interest at airports or other border crossings. The results
are returned quickly to enable immediate follow-up action, and images are not recorded
in the system.
fBRINGING EXPERTS TOGETHER
As this computerized biometric comparison technology is still in its infancy in most
countries, standards and best practices are still in the process of being created, and
INTERPOL is contributing to this.
Held every two years, INTERPOL’s International Fingerprint and Face Symposium provides
an opportunity for experts from around the world to share best practice and latest
developments.
We also host meetings of the Face Expert Working Group twice a year. This is INTERPOL’s
advisory group for new technology, identification procedures, training needs and for
producing official documents to assist member countries in this field.
The Expert Group produced a best practice guide for the quality, format and transmission
of facial images to promote accurate and effective recognition. We strongly encourage our
member countries to use the Facial Recognition service and to follow the recommendations