In brief
Understanding the problem, developing solutions
Issues
The increasing use of facial recognition and authentication technologies within businesses and public spaces raises significant issues regarding the protection of sensitive data and regulatory compliance (LPD, GDPR). The exfiltration or misappropriation of biometric templates exposes users to irreversible risks of digital identity theft.
Objective
To develop a software and hardware solution incorporating the principle of ‘Privacy by Design’ to process and protect biometric data streams directly at source. Facial images are obscured, encrypted or irreversibly altered, preventing any reconstruction of the face whilst ensuring optimal authentication accuracy:
-
Develop obfuscation and biometric protection algorithms: Mitigate the risks of facial reverse engineering and prevent the malicious exploitation of stored or transmitted templates.
-
Embedded integration (Edge Computing): Adapting encryption and computer vision algorithms to the hardware constraints of optical sensors and smart cameras.
-
Ensuring legal and ethical compliance: To provide organisations with a scientifically validated technical framework that meets the strict requirements of proportionality and data minimisation set out in the Data Protection Act (DPA).
-
Validation under real-world conditions: To demonstrate operational reliability (low false rejection rate, robustness) on a functional industrial prototype.
A collaborative project that is funded and well-organised
Budget
CHF 159,990
Total project costs
CHF 99,990
Funding [seal]
Key dates for the project
2025
Start of the collaborative project
Autumn / Winter 2026
Dissemination of results

Face protection and restoration: design and implementation of technologies for face alteration and restoration of the original image, as well as the integration of the working prototype
Secure access and key management: design and implementation of access control and cryptographic key management components
User-centred validation: designing and conducting user research to assess usability, trust, acceptance and contexts of use, and to guide future improvements