Starting Aug. 24, facial recognition software is in place when SGI issues driver’s licences and photo identification cards.
The technology is coming in as a way to further protect Saskatchewan people from identity theft.
“Facial recognition protects Saskatchewan residents from identity theft and it also prevents people from getting multiple licences or ID cards,” said SGI president and CEO Andrew Cartmell in a statement.
“This enhances road safety for everyone because it means someone with a suspended or revoked driver’s licence isn’t able to continue driving by getting a new licence under a different name.”
The way this works is behind the scenes, according to SGI.
A photo is entered into the facial recognition system, which then creates a numerical template of that photo using landmarks on the face such as the distance between the eyes and the size of the eyes, nose, cheekbones and jaw.
The system compares the numeric template of the new photo to the customer’s previous one if an existing driver’s licence/photo ID card is on file. Then it compares the numeric template of the photo to the numeric template of all other photos in the database, to confirm it’s not associated with any other customer in the database.
There is no added cost to customers, and driver’s licence and photo ID cards continue to be valid for five years. Customers won’t notice much of a difference if they get a new photo taken or receive a new card; customers are also not required to get a new photo or card until their current one expires.
“The transition to facial recognition is seamless for customers, and we are pleased to provide enhanced security that our customers can count on,” said Cartmell. “With this move, Saskatchewan joins most other Canadian provinces that are using facial recognition technology in their driver’s licensing programs, as well as Passport Canada.”
SGI announced plans to move to facial recognition technology in October 2015 when a contract was awarded to Veridos Canada Inc. who began producing Saskatchewan driver’s licence and photo ID cards this past April 1.
