The Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 20th that it will extend the pilot period for a procedure that uses facial recognition technology to verify whether the person is the actual subscriber when activating a mobile phone from the 23rd of this month to June 30. It is seen as a response to a petition signed by more than 50,000 people, who said facial data are unique personal identifiers and criticized the one-way system without public debate or a right to choose.
The facial authentication procedure conducted at mobile phone activation was piloted starting Dec. 23 last year at in-person channels of the three mobile carriers and non-face-to-face channels of budget phone companies as part of a comprehensive plan to eradicate voice phishing. Regarding the extension of the pilot period, the Ministry of Science and ICT said it was "the result of comprehensively reviewing and accepting opinions from the industry, including the three mobile carriers, the budget phone association, and the Korea Mobile Distribution Association, to minimize user inconvenience and to settle the system."
The industry asked for a pilot extension of more than three months by clearly defining work processes to prevent confusion on the ground; supplementing on-site response manuals to cope with various external variables such as lighting and communication conditions; confirming alternative means and providing sufficient on-site guidance to ensure practical choice for older adults, people with disabilities, the digitally vulnerable, and users who are uncomfortable with facial recognition; introducing the procedure across all channels (in-person and non-face-to-face) of the three mobile carriers and budget phone companies to enhance policy effectiveness; and considering peak seasons for the mobile retail sector such as new device launches and Family Month in May.
The Ministry of Science and ICT reviewed various alternatives, including PIN verification within the mobile ID app provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), human verification via video call, other biometrics such as fingerprints and iris, and account verification, and said it will additionally gather industry opinions during the pilot period and make a separate announcement once the alternatives are finalized.
Choi Woo-hyeok, director general for Information Security and Network Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "The identity verification procedure using facial recognition technology is the most effective means to prevent potential identity theft and rental of mobile subscriptions," adding, "We will continue to improve what is needed by communicating with companies, related agencies, and experts and listening to diverse opinions so that a safe and trusted communications environment that people can feel is built, while minimizing inconvenience for users and front-line staff."