EU Launches ‘Gait Recognition’ Pilot to Enhance Border Security

The European Union has launched a pilot program using biometric gait recognition technology to monitor border crossings. The initiative, called the PopEye Project, is funded by a €3.2 million grant from Horizon Europe, with the aim of testing and improving border security by identifying individuals based on their unique walking styles.

Gait recognition is a biometric technology that identifies individuals based on their unique walking style or movement patterns. Unlike other biometrics such as fingerprints or facial recognition, gait recognition can work from a distance and does not require the subject’s cooperation, making it useful for monitoring people in motion.

The technology uses video, radar, or sensors to capture and analyze how a person walks, which is then matched against a database for identification or verification. Although gait recognition is considered less accurate on its own, it can be combined with other biometric methods to improve reliability.

The PopEye Project, developed in partnership with research institutes including Vrije Universiteit Brussels and Idiap, builds on a 2021 study by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard agency, which explored the potential of gait recognition combined with other biometric methods, such as 3D facial recognition.

The project emphasizes privacy preservation, complying with the EU’s AI Act and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Finnish Ministry of Interior and Romanian Border Authorities are key participants, alongside various research institutions.

Though gait recognition is much less common than other biometric modalities, it has been the subject of research studies in recent years. In 2020, Mastercard announced that it was working with transport companies to develop a biometric system that authenticates passengers using gait recognition, allowing travelers to access public transportation without physical passes, relying on cameras to recognize individuals by their walking patterns.

Source: The Record

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October 22, 2024 – by Tony Bitzionis