How Many People Use Face Biometrics? (Biometric Statistics)

Face authentication and verification have become ubiquitous in the lives of consumers globally. Apple Face ID, launched in 2017, has enabled millions of people to unlock their phones several times a day using a simple face scan instead of a passcode or fingerprint. Those same people are also using their face to access mobile apps — face biometrics is used for mobile banking, payment, shopping, and other services. (Read more about the difference between face verification and face authentication here.)

It’s important to note that on-device face authentication services like Face ID are useful, but they don’t provide the security that many banks, governments, and other organizations need. Device-based authentication authenticates the user so that the device is satisfied that the person is who they claim to be. With iProov’s cloud-based authentication the organization can be satisfied that the user is who they claim to be, but also that the user is authenticating in real-time. 

The problem with on-device biometric authentication is that the organization is having to depend on the device’s face authentication technology. If the device has been compromised, the service provider would have no way of knowing and imposters could be given access. This is why secure processes require cloud-based face authentication with Dynamic Liveness (GPA).

One thing is for sure: millions of consumers are now very comfortable with using their face for online security. So how many people are using face authentication across the world? 

Biometric statistics: how many people use face authentication to access their mobile banking app? 

We asked 1000 consumers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, and Italy if they currently use face authentication to access their mobile banking app on their devices. 

We found that 38% of people are already using face authentication to access their mobile banking app. An additional 32% of people would use it if they could. Combined, the results look this:

We also found that around 30% of people do all of their banking remotely on their mobile devices, meaning that a significant proportion of all banking is now accessed using facial biometric technology.

The takeaway here? Consumers are comfortable using facial biometrics on their device, and they are happy using it to access their bank account remotely. 

This means that the opportunity for banks and other organizations is huge. By implementing secure biometric face authentication from iProov, banks can enable customers to complete even the most secure processes online, such as adding a new payee, transferring a large amount of money, changing a PIN or requesting a debit card. This reduces costs, minimizes customer frustration and provides a truly secure, inclusive, and convenient mobile banking experience. 

So what do people like about face authentication?

Why do people like face authentication?

We asked people to tell us why they like using face authentication, allowing them to choose several options. Speed and convenience were the top reasons selected:

Speed

iProov’s reassuring ceremony takes just a few seconds to authenticate users. To use your phone you have to look at it, so authenticating just by looking at it requires the least effort from the user. iProov’s solution is truly passive, as there are no steps for the user to take: just look into the front-facing camera and you’re done. 

Convenience

Face authentication is incredibly convenient. Standard solutions like passwords are often forgotten, requiring a lengthy recovery process. SMS one-time passcodes (OTPs) either require the user to switch between apps and copy a code, or sometimes even require two separate devices. Face authentication is consistently convenient for the user. 

Users always have their face right there — you don’t need to remember anything, carry a security token, or do anything. You just present your face to the device’s front-facing camera. Plus, there is no special hardware required, unlike with a fingerprint reader.

iProov’s Dynamic Liveness can be used on any device — including mobile devices, desktop computers, tablets, and kiosks — affording additional convenience. An important additional benefit of iProov’s cloud-based technology is that if your device is lost, stolen, damaged, or out of battery you can easily access your account from any device (unlike on-device biometrics).

Earning trust online with face authentication

To summarise:

• We asked 1000 people across six countries if they use or would like to use face authentication to log in to their mobile banking app. The results ranged from 70% in the US and 69% in the UK, all the way up to 77% of people in Spain and Italy. An average of 70% of people across the six countries use or would like to use face authentication for mobile banking.
• We then asked what people liked about using face authentication. The top two answers were speed and convenience.
• iProov can help onboard, verify, and authenticate your customers using facial biometric technology. Dynamic Liveness offers the highest levels of security and user experience.

iProov is already trusted by leading organizations, such as the US Department of Homeland Security, the UK Home Office, and leading banks to deliver secure face authentication. Dynamic Liveness is crucial for organizations looking to deliver national-grade security without sacrificing the user experience.

If you’d like to see the benefits of using face authentication to secure and streamline online services for your organization, book your demo here.