Cancelable Biometric Transformations for E-Passport Security

Abstract

E-Passport or Electronic Passport is comprised of a microprocessor chip which contains biometric data used to authenticate the identity of passport holder. Facial image, fingerprint image and palm-print image are some of the currently standardized biometric modalities, embedded in the E-Passports. The privacy of the biometric data becomes a problem during storage and transmission. The biometric data cannot be revoked or re-issued unlike tokens or passwords, if compromised. The possibility of producing cancelable templates from the biometric features of user has been studied, thus eliminating threats to privacy and security of the biometric features. Cancelable template is obtained from original biometric image after intentional/repeated distortions (based on user-specific key), and thereby providing security to the templates. The distortions can be implemented either at signal or at feature level. The cancelable templates can be revoked or re-issued whenever required just by changing the user-specific key. The probability of applying cancelable transformations to secure the privacy of the biometric features in E-passport has been explored in the article