NEC Corporation announces its face recognition technology was ranked the world’s most accurate in the most recent benchmark test conducted by the globally recognized U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The latest Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE) 1:N Identification report indicates that NEC’s system received the highest performance rating, with an authentication error rate of 0.07%, in the "1:N Identification" test using still images of 12 million people. In addition, it also ranked first in two aging tests using images taken more than 10 and 12 years ago, and was ranked in the top two in all eight major FRTE 1:N Identification categories listed on the NIST website.
The NIST-sponsored benchmark test for face recognition technology is a comprehensive and impartial evaluation process in which NIST objectively assesses programs developed and submitted by different organisations under consistent conditions. It is widely regarded as one of the few tests that enables users to effectively compare the performance of face recognition algorithms from organisations globally.
Since its first participation in 2009, NEC has consistently ranked first in the world in the 1:N authentication test, which demands higher accuracy than any other face recognition benchmark sponsored by NIST. Notably, in the aging test which uses images over 10 years old, akin to the expiration date of a passport. NEC has secured first place with exceptional accuracy, unmatched by any other organisation.
Through continuous enhancements to its core algorithms, NEC has broadened the application of its face recognition technology to approximately 80 airports worldwide, as well as to transportation hubs, office buildings, factories, hotels, theme parks, hospitals, apartment complexes, retail stores, financial institutions, and local governments. The company has expanded its face recognition business to over 50 countries and regions globally. The technology’s use extends beyond access control to a variety of applications aimed at improving customer experience and security, including hospitality, surveillance, in-store payments, and ATM procedures.
In the future, NEC will not only continue to focus on replacing physical identity verification methods and physical security, but will also accelerate the development and provision of solutions that can be adapted to new use cases in an ever-growing digital society.
At the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which opens on April 13, 2025, NEC will provide a face recognition system for admission control for visitors who have purchased a full-year pass or summer pass, in addition to payments at stores in the venue, and will also provide a decentralized identity (DID)/verifiable credentials (VC) face recognition solution "NEC Digital Identity VCs Connect" for "null2," the signature pavilion produced by media artist Yoichi Ochiai.
The DID/VC solution enables the creation of a "self-sovereign identity," where individuals manage their own information independently, reducing reliance on service providers and cloud vendors for digital data management. This will enable individuals to use digital services with greater peace of mind than ever before.
NEC is thoroughly committed to following the NEC Group AI and Human Rights Principles in its use of AI, biometric data, and other data, placing the highest priority on privacy and respect for human rights.
NEC offers end-to-end digital transformation (DX) services, from strategy and concept consulting to implementation-focused offerings, based on the three pillars of business models, technology, and organisation/talent. Additionally, in its shift from a traditional systems integrator to a "Value Driver," NEC restructured its value creation model under the name "NEC BluStellar", which leverages NEC’s cutting-edge technologies, developed and refined through years of experience and proven cross-industry expertise, aiming to transform business models, address social challenges, resolve management issues faced by customers, and lead them into a brighter future.
