People today already expect a certain level of convenience when engaging in digital interactions, and thanks to their many benefits, biometric technologies meet – and even exceed – these expectations.
By Allen Ganz*
As businesses and consumers in Latin America continue to recognize their value and embrace the speed and efficiency they offer, the implementation of biometric solutions will continue to grow in various sectors during 2025.
According to HID's State of Security and Identity 2025 Industry Report, the majority of respondents (73%) report the use of biometrics as part of their multi-factor authentication (MFA) strategy, a picture that is also reflected in the Expert Report, where interest in and adoption of biometrics in security and authentication continues to increase in the region. with a projection of sustained growth of 12.30% per year until 2032. However, this boom also requires discussions about the ethical implications, privacy concerns, and responsible development of these solutions; Only in this way can a future be guaranteed in which biometrics serve humanity ethically and equitably.
Below, we will examine the impact of biometrics on identity authentication and verification today, highlighting the most relevant developments that continue to drive its evolution in the region.
1. Contactless biometrics
The growing interest in hygienic and non-invasive security solutions will continue to promote the development and implementation of contactless biometric systems. Technologies such as facial recognition and palm or fingerprint biometrics usually do not require physical interaction, that is, they do not require the intervention of a person, such as a cashier or assistant, or direct contact with a device, thanks to facial and hand scans in the air.
2. Multimodal biometrics
The integration of multiple biometric modalities (such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and voice recognition) into a single authentication system will become increasingly common in the region. This improves security and user experience by providing multiple layers of fast, frictionless authentication.
3. Image Quality Assessment
Capturing high-quality images is the critical first step to accurate biometric results. To ensure flawless performance in demanding environments such as air travel, banking, and border control, biometric scanners such as facial recognition cameras and fingerprint readers must incorporate advanced image quality assessment technologies. This allows them to automatically adjust to various real-world conditions, including challenging lighting, demographic variability, and adverse weather conditions, to achieve the best possible matching results.
4. Biometrics with AI and machine learning
Embedding intelligence into biometric solutions enables continuous improvement, which is essential for defending against evolving threats, such as deepfakes generated from videos and images, and for increasing the accuracy of systems. In this sense, the adoption of AI for security purposes is gaining momentum among users, as evidenced by the aforementioned HID report, where 50% of respondents have improved the efficiency and speed of security processes with the use of AI.
5. Advanced Presentation Attack Detection (PAD)
PAD technology uses sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze subtle signals, such as micro-expressions, and effectively differentiate between real subjects and impersonation attempts. Actively detecting and blocking these attempts at the time of capture helps mitigate risks, ensuring the integrity and security of the biometric authentication process.
6. Biometrics at the edge
Processing biometric data directly on devices is a key aspect for applications such as facial recognition. Edge computing reduces latency, improves privacy and security by minimizing data transmission to centralized servers, and enables more efficient real-time authentication with high performance.
7. Self-service enablement
The self-service experience is expanding across a variety of industries, as people prefer to move around airports, theme parks, and other spaces with as little friction as possible and little human interaction. The integration of facial recognition cameras into self-service systems – such as kiosks, ATMs, payment terminals and electronic doors – enables simple and secure authentication, optimizing business efficiency and providing a more convenient experience for users.
8. Ethical considerations
As biometrics become more and more integrated into our daily lives, ethical considerations become more relevant. Major vendors are expected to maintain a strong commitment to data diversity to reduce bias in matching algorithms and promote inclusivity in diverse applications. These efforts will contribute to strengthening public confidence in the ethical and responsible use of biometric technologies.
9. Data Privacy and Security
Data privacy remains a central concern for both consumers and businesses. Regulations (such as GDPR, BIPA, and CCPA) will continue to define how biometric information is collected, stored, and used. Throughout 2025, we will see in the region a greater emphasis on giving people more control over their personal information, as well as demanding greater transparency from the organizations that handle this sensitive data.
10. Unlocking Value in Various Industries
We anticipate that companies in various sectors will continue to adopt biometric technologies to improve operational efficiency and meet consumer demand for greater autonomy in their daily activities. Some of the use cases for biometrics include:
● Travel: passenger verification at checkpoints. Biometrics play a crucial role in supporting smooth passage, facilitating fast, secure and accurate identity verification at every checkpoint at airports, seaports and other transport corridors.
● Government: border control and immigration. As global travel volumes continue to increase, biometrics play an integral role in streamlining these crossings while bolstering security. Immigration agencies can significantly improve border security and passenger processing, increasing traveler satisfaction by reducing wait times and optimizing the overall experience.
● Banking: biometrics for KYC. By incorporating biometric solutions such as facial recognition and fingerprint technology, banks can improve customer onboarding, advance identity verification, and strengthen the bank's security against sophisticated fraud attempts.
● Retail: Age verification. As age estimation algorithms continue to advance, biometrics will be a driving force in identity checks in public spaces, including age-restricted establishments such as casinos and nightclubs, and in retail stores that sell age-restricted products.
● Health: patient registration. Biometric innovations enrich the experience in the health sector. Self-registration of patients using facial recognition technology is fast, straightforward, and reliable, greatly improving the patient experience while driving operational efficiency.
● Entertainment: Ticket-free admission. Facial recognition technology streamlines entry processes at theme parks, stadiums, and other entertainment venues by eliminating the need for physical tickets, reducing wait times, and improving the overall visitor experience.
Leveraging the uniqueness of our individual characteristics is the basis for reliable and irrefutable identity verification. Biometrics continue to evolve in Latin America, moving away from cumbersome passwords and error-prone manual authentications. The challenge today is to balance convenience with ethics, data security, and user privacy, as innovation continues to harness the power of human biology to protect our ever-expanding digital universe.
*Allen Ganz is an expert in facial recognition and digital identity, with more than 25 years driving innovative solutions in security and customer experience. Currently, he leads an independent strategic consultancy, advising technology companies in sales and marketing.
