One third of the Austrian population feels threatened in case of insufficient border control (IFES Sicherheitmonitor 2013). This highlights the importance of border control and identification of persons to ensure a positive perception of the citizens on security. However, research in the area of advanced mobile border control and the impact of new technologies is currently lacking.
Continuous improvements of document inspection and identity verification methods are a vital part of supporting the police authorities and border patrol to protect a country’s citizens. Fast and reliable methods for optical and electronic verification of identity documents as well as biometric identification are a huge asset in the search for certain persons, prevention of illegal immigration, illegal residency and related crimes.
Goal of the project “Modentity” is to improve mobile document authentication and identity verification to create the person checking procedure of the future. This shall be achieved by utilizing smartphones and their onboard sensors.
In this project, the use of such systems and sensors is investigated and demonstrated in terms of a proof-of -concept. Different concepts and architectures are compared and the integration into the control workflow will be demonstrated. Additionally, tools for acquisition of biometric features in mobile application will be developed.
The research will be conducted with the permanent interaction with social, ethical and legal researchers to guarantee that the results achieved will be accepted by the user groups and the citizens. Data protection and data security will be considered from the very beginning of the design.
“Modentity” will develop a technology leap in the field of mobile devices for document and identity control to allow further success of police forces in their duty to fight against illegal immigration, terroristic attacks and crime. If successful, the project will contribute to the positive perception of the Austrian citizens on security. In this sense, Austria could become a pioneer in a core security technology of the future.
Project partner
· AIT – Austrian Institute of Technology Gmbh (consortium leader)
· Bundesministerium für Inneres; Referate II/2/a und II/2/e
· Österreichische Staatsdruckerei GmbH
· rubicon IT GmbH
· IFES Institut für empirische Sozialforschung GmbH
· IFES Feld GmbH
Contact
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Safety & Security Department
Donau-City-Straße 1
1220 Vienna, Austria
Franz Daubner
Project manager
Phone: +43 664 8251167
Fax: +43 50550-2813
Email: franz.daubner@ait.ac.at
Dr. Markus Clabian
Thematic coordinator
Phone: +43 50550-4294
Fax: +43 50550-4150
Email: markus.clabian@ait.ac.at
