As global travel rebounds and international mobility gains momentum, border control authorities are increasingly turning to biometric technologies to modernise how people cross borders. Among the most transformative of these technologies is facial recognition, which is revolutionising identity verification at immigration checkpoints and airports.
In 2025, we are witnessing a pivotal shift in how borders are managed—one that prioritises both seamless traveller experiences and stringent security protocols. Facial recognition is enabling a new era of digital identity that is faster, smarter and more secure. But with great innovation comes great responsibility. Stakeholders must ensure that these technologies are deployed ethically, inclusively and transparently.
The rise of frictionless travel
Modern travellers expect convenience. Long lines at customs, manual document checks and physical contact are quickly becoming relics of the past. Airports and seaports worldwide are deploying self-service biometric kiosks and automated border control gates that allow travellers to verify their identities using facial recognition in a matter of seconds.
This touchless approach not only reduces physical contact, especially important in a post-pandemic world, but also increases throughput and minimises human error. The ability to match a traveller’s face to a stored biometric profile or electronic passport enables authorities to validate identities with high accuracy and speed.
HID has been at the forefront of enabling such capabilities, helping government agencies and border control operators deploy solutions that enhance both security and efficiency. These innovations improve the overall travel experience while freeing up personnel to focus on higher-value tasks.
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Addressing the ethical imperative
Technology must be designed not only for efficiency but also for fairness. The biometric solutions that have been put in place must be trained using diverse datasets to help reduce demographic bias and ensure inclusivity across gender, race and age. Every traveller—regardless of background—deserves a fair and secure identity verification process.
Building trust through transparency and data protection
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Despite the clear benefits, the growing use of facial recognition technology raises valid concerns around privacy, consent and bias. Travellers increasingly want to know how their biometric data is being used, stored and protected—and rightfully so.
Privacy regulations such as the European Union’s GDPR, the United States’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), and California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) are reshaping how companies and governments handle sensitive biometric data. These laws demand that organisations prioritise data minimisation, transparency and user control.
Public trust remains one of the biggest barriers to the widespread adoption of facial recognition technology. To build confidence, biometric systems must be developed with privacy by design — embedding data protection principles from the outset. Transparency around how data is managed, minimal data exposure, and stringent safeguards are essential to assure passengers that their personal information is handled with care and integrity.
Equally important is how these privacy measures are communicated to users. Clear, accessible messaging about how biometric systems work, what data is collected, and how it is protected can help demystify the technology and foster trust. Proactive, consistent communication ensures passengers feel informed and empowered, rather than uncertain or overlooked.
Transparency is no longer optional—it’s essential. Giving travellers the ability to opt in, understand how their data is processed, and withdraw consent, when necessary, fosters confidence and encourages adoption.
Advancements in AI-driven biometric technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the driving force behind the next generation of facial recognition systems, helping to improve accuracy and address growing challenges such as spoofs, deepfakes and matching bias — all of which have become critical concerns. Industry-leading vendors use AI-trained algorithms with an ethically sourced, comprehensive demographic datasets that represents millions of diverse gender, age, race and skin tone characteristics to ensure accurate matching across all people for inclusivity.
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AI-powered facial recognition is becoming increasingly sophisticated, capable of adapting to different lighting conditions, facial expressions, and even partial obstructions like masks or glasses.
One of the most critical advancements is in liveness detection—technology that verifies whether the person presenting their face is a live human being rather than a photo, video or digital spoof. AI is also playing a key role in identifying and neutralising deepfakes, a growing concern in identity fraud.
By continuously improving the accuracy and adaptability of biometric systems, AI is helping border authorities stay ahead of increasingly complex threats while maintaining a high level of user convenience.
Real-world impact: Batam Centre Seaport, Indonesia
A shining example of facial recognition in action can be found at the Batam Centre seaport in Indonesia. This critical port of entry, which handles more than 8 million passengers annually, implemented HID’s biometric technology to streamline border processing.
The system integrates facial recognition cameras and document readers at automated border gates, enabling seamless and rapid identity verification. The result? Dramatically reduced wait times, fewer bottlenecks, and a much-improved experience for both travellers and immigration officials.
The success of the Batam Centre deployment underscores how facial recognition can be deployed at scale to meet the dual demands of security and convenience.
The future of border control: A holistic vision
As we look to the future, it’s clear that facial recognition will play a central role in reshaping how nations secure their borders. But it must be part of a broader vision—one that considers not just the technology, but the policies, ethics and societal impact that surround it.
Governments, technology providers and privacy advocates must work collaboratively to establish guidelines and best practices that ensure biometric solutions are implemented responsibly.
In 2025 and beyond, the intersection of technology, policy and human experience will define the success of facial recognition at the border. The goal is to create a travel experience that is not only fast and secure, but also fair, transparent and respectful of individual rights.
Robert Sutton is the director of Solution Enablement, Aviation, Biometric Identity Technologies at HID
