NEC Corporation of America (NEC), a provider of IT, communications, networking and biometric solutions, has partnered with IT firm Unisys to implement its facial comparison technology at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York, USA.
Unisys will integrate NEC’s NeoFace Match facial recognition software into its existing solution at the airport, which will then be overseen by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. NEC’s facial matching technology will be used to compare the image taken during the normal inspection process to the image stored on the traveler’s e-passport.
The CBP project is one of several initiatives to address a recent congressional mandate to biometrically record the entry and departure of foreign visitors. The goal is to accurately verify who arrives in the USA, while also enhancing border security and facilitating travel.
Amy Rall, group vice president for the Department of Homeland Security practice at Unisys Federal, said, “Recent successful tests in high traffic security screening venues proved the ability of the system to efficiently and accurately perform one-to-one facial image comparisons. This solution of NEC facial recognition technology can help make the country safer without disrupting travel or sacrificing travelers’ privacy.”
Raffie Beroukhim, vice president, Biometrics Solutions Division, NEC, said, “NEC is pleased to be part of such a high profile program. NeoFace accuracy and speed were the determining factors in selection of NEC technology and our participation in this program for the US CBP is validation of NEC’s position as a biometric leader.”