Machine Readable Travel Documents Research Articles

Fake Face Detection in Identity Cards Using Stegoface

Abstract: Identification and Machine-Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs) play a crucial role in verifying and validating identities in various situations, such as international travel, civil applications, online commerce, and access to transaction processing systems. These documents incorporate multiple security features aimed at preventing document forgery. However, criminals have shifted their focus to obtaining genuine documents fraudulently and manipulating facial portraits, as the existing security systems are challenging to bypass. To address this issue and mitigate the risks associated with such fraud, it is imperative for governments and ID/MRTD manufacturers to continually enhance and develop security measures. In this context, we present StegoFace, an innovative and efficient steganography method specifically designed for concealing secret messages within facial images found on common IDs and MRTDs. StegoFace employs an end-to-end approach, consisting of an ensemble of n Deep Convolutional Auto Encoders, which encode the secret message into a stegofacial image, and a Deep Convolutional Auto Decoder, capable of extracting the hidden message from the stegofacial image. Notably, our StegoFace approach outperforms the StegaStamp method in terms of perceptual quality, as evidenced by the results of metrics such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio, hiding capacity, and imperceptibility on the test dataset.

Addressing Covid-19 Vaccination Status in Electronic Passports and Machine Readable Travel Documents

Following the global Covid-19 pandemic, travelers to many countries are now required to produce negative virus tests. A requirement to prove positive vaccination status would also be advantageous in order to ensure that passenger numbers return to their pre-2019 levels. A separate “Vaccination Passport” document is at this time suggested. However, there exists space within the existing digital passport (ePassports) and Machine Readable Travel Document (MRTD) format wherein a passport holder's Covid-19 vaccination status could be presented. This article offers a practical solution to reduce the amount of new documentation required by air and land travelers. It is anticipated that this measure will introduce a “wait time” benefit for passengers as the global transportation system is restarted.

Facial blemishes detection and encryption with secure force algorithm into HCC2D code for biometric-passport

ABSTRACT A biometric passport includes demographic information and biometric details. It contains some applications that are currently and probable concerning national security such as frontier protection, illegal immigration, criminals, terrorists, and fake passport. Over the fifteen years, most of the countries have adopted biometric-passports based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD) standardization. However, the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system contains a threat scenario that exists in privacy violation issues such as identity theft, data leakage threats, host listing, and tracking. To overcome these issues, this paper proposed a face recognition based on facial blemishes detection and encrypted into the High Capacity Color 2-Dimensional (HCC2D) code for biometric passport security. This includes facial blemishes features detection to generate the template and encrypted by applying the Secure Force (SF) algorithm to secure biometric information. Facial blemishes are detected by applying the Active Appearance Model (AAM) using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Canny edge detector with Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) detection algorithm. The proposed technique attained a 93.06% accuracy level for the dataset Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK). This technique will enhance biometric passport security to protect the biometric information from an intruder.

MACHINE-READABLE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS IN AVIATION SECURITY AND INFORMATION PRIVACY: AN ISLAMIC LAW PERSPECTIVE

For the purpose of preventing civil aviation offences and maintaining security of civil aviation, passengers are required to give biometric information which must be stored in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) approved Machine Readable Travel Documents (MTRDs) and that such information obtained should be adequately secured against skimming and eavesdropping. Since its inception, many countries including the Islamic countries have adopted the machine to process information of passengers coming in and going out of their states. Academic writers have written on the challenges of skimming and eavesdropping as they are related to information privacy versus aviation security in the conventional law but the Islamic law position has not been dealt with. The article therefore attempts to explore the Islamic law position on the use of Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTDs) and the challenges being posed to aviation security. The paper is qualitative in nature and relies on primary and secondary sources of Islamic law to argue its position. The paper finds that Islamic law expressly preserves individual’s information privacy and that skimming and eavesdropping are allowed to promote public security and prevention of evil. Its further provides punishment for whoever transgresses against information privacy. It concludes that the adoption of MRTDs to obtain information about private affairs of passengers is in line with the principle of Islamic law.

Biometric Passport for National Security Using Multibiometrics and Encrypted Biometric Data Encoded in the QR Code

An e-passport contains the personal and biometric information of a person. It has some current and possible applications relating to national security and law enforcement such as border security, illegal immigration, terrorism, criminals, fake passport, and so on. In the past decade, a number of countries have implemented the e-passport based on Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standardization. However, there is a threat scenario in the privacy infringement problem due to Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) such as data leakage threats, identity theft, tracking, and host listing. In this article, a multimodal biometric, secure encrypted data and encrypted biometric encoded in the Quick Response Code (QR code) based e-passport authentication method is proposed for national security application. Further, Personal information and biometric data are encrypted by applying the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) 256 algorithm. More specifically, face recognition based on facial marks size detection and hand geometry detection is used for a biometric passport to enhance and secure the authentication level. The proposed method achieved an accuracy level of 92% for IITK (Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur) dataset, an accuracy level of 93% for FEI (Fundação Educacional Inaciana) dataset in mark size detection and an accuracy level of 96.67% achieved in the hand geometry detection.

Розширення функціоналу електронного біометричного паспорта для застосування в електронному документообігу

In this article the authors analyze the concept of using of electronic biometric passport (EBP) as a means of digital signature (DS). A prototype of such a passport is described.The technical platform, which is suitable for the implementation of this concept, is defined. The software part is designed based on an open software Java Machine Readable Travel Documents (implementation of the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization to e-passports application) and other software products that provide cryptographic protection of information and secure communication with electronic cards. The developed prototype consists of three modules: module of interaction with the Logical Data Structure of EBP, module of interaction with the active authentication public key, module of interaction with the active authentication private key. The key elements of each module are described.The obtained results allow us to simplify the citizen's access to DS services and to speed up the implementation of the e-government in Ukraine.

FACE RECOGNITION SYSTEM FOR MACHINE READABLE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

This paper presents an upright frontal face recognition system, aimed to recognize faces on machine readable travel documents (MRTD). The system is able to handle large image databases with high processing speed and low detection and identification errors. In order to achieve high accuracy eyes are detected in the most probable regions, which narrows search area and therefore reduces computation time. Recognition is performed with the use of eigenface approach. The paper introduces eigenface basis ranking measure, which is helpful in challenging task of creating the basis for recognition purposes. To speed up identification process we split the database into males and females using high - performance AdaBoost classifier. At the end of the paper the results of the tests in speed and accuracy are given.

BioPACE

While developing the specifications for electronically enabled Machine Readable Travel Documents, the ICAO paid significant attention to security aspects related to the digital information stored in this type of electronic document. This has resulted in Passive and Active Authentication, Basic Access Control and Extended Access Control. The goal of Basic Access Control (BAC) is preventing unauthorized access to the chip data stored on eMRTDs. The PACE protocol has been developed as a future-proof method to overcome the limitations of BAC and to replace BAC in the future. In this paper the BioPACE protocol is proposed as a supplement to the PACE protocol. Besides verifying if the document holder is indeed the rightful owner, the BioPACE protocol provides a higher convenience for the bearer of the document.

The ePassport — new technology to counter security threats

The ePassport is the culmination of a sustained process of development of technical specifications for machine readable travel documents (MRTD). It introduces a new dimension to aviation security in that, within the conventional machine readable passport with its machine readable zone, an additional layer of verification of information contained in an electronic chip is placed, which verifies the information in the passport’s machine readable zone by the use of a special reader. Much research has gone into the areas of the technology and verification in the development of the ePassport. At a Symposium held at the International Civil Aviation Organization in early October 2012, the ePassport was subjected to much discussion by the various experts gathered from across the globe. This article discusses these deliberations and places them against the backdrop of the privacy of the individual and aviation security law.

Evolution of Electronic Passport Scheme using Cryptographic Protocol along with Biometrics Authentication System

Millions of citizens around the world have already acquired their new electronic passport. The epassport is equipped with contactless chip which stores personal data of the passport holder, information about the passport and the issuing institution, as well as with a multiple biometrics enabling cryptographic functionality. Countries are required to build a Public Key Infrastructure, biometric and Radio Frequency Identification to support various cryptographic, as this is considered the basic tools to prove the authenticity and integrity of the Machine Readable Travel Documents. The large-scale worldwide PKI is construction, by means of bilateral trust relationships between Countries. Investigate the good practices, which are essential for the establishment of a global identification scheme based on e-passports. The paper explores the privacy and security implications of this impending worldwide experiment in biometrics authentication technology.

E-Passports as a means towards a Globally Interoperable Public Key Infrastructure

Millions of citizens around the world have already acquired their new electronic passport. The e-passport is equipped with contactless communication capability, as well as with an Integrated Circuit Chip enabling cryptographic functionality. Countries are required to build a national Public Key Infrastructure to support digital signatures, as this is considered the basic mechanism to prove the authenticity and integrity of the Machine Readable Travel Documents. The first, large-scale, worldwide PKI is currently under construction, by means of bilateral trust relationships between Countries. In this paper, we propose a set of good practices, which are essential for the establishment of a global identification scheme based on e-passports, together with an analysis of the security and privacy issues that may arise. We argue that an e-passport may also be exploited in other applications as a globally interoperable PKI-enabled tamperproof device. The preconditions, the benefits and the drawbacks of using e-passports in everyday electronic activities are further analyzed and assessed.

ICAO passport blueprint specifies high-capacity contactless chips

In what could turn out to be a significant boost for the smart card industry, the International Civil Aviation Organization has formally adopted a global standard for the integration of contactless smart card chips and biometric information into passports and other machine readable travel documents (MRTDs). This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news

Safety in the Air: Air Carriers' Rights and Responsibilities at National and International Law

Several air disasters involving loss of lives of passengers and others on the ground have illustrated the key role expected of airlines in ensuring the security of aircraft and the safety of those affected by the contract of carriage by air. The culmination of these expectations came immediately after 11 September 2001 when aircraft were used as weapons of mass destruction against passengers of the aircraft concerned and those on the ground. Sustained debate followed between the air transport industry and regulators as to whether airlines could justifiably be expected to bear full responsibility for the safety of those on board and on the ground who may be affected by an air disaster. The international community now recognizes that the airlines have to bear some responsibility in the decision-making process regarding persons boarding their aircraft. Modern techniques for passenger screening include the use of machine readable travel documents (MRTDs) and advance passenger information (API). In addition, the practice of passenger profiling is not uncommon among some carriers who cooperate with customs and immigration authorities to identify possible offenders, with a view to preventing them from boarding their aircraft. The process of refusal to board, however, may entail legal consequences, particularly in the context of the contract which has already passed between the air carrier and passenger prior to boarding. Although usually a contract can be frustrated thus affecting the performance of that contract, the instance of a potential offender is unique in that refusal of carriage is based on conjecture rather than empirical evidence. This article examines this issue with a focus on developments in some European and United States jurisdictions.

ICAO committee says yes to face: ICAO sets the standard

The International Civil Aviation Organization has formally adopted a global standard for the integration of biometric information into passports and other machine-readable travel documents (MRTDs). This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news