Face comparison algorithm Self Service Passport Control (SSPC)

Asylum and migration

Self Service Passport Control, deployed by the Royal Military Police to support their border duties on behalf of the Ministry of Asylum and Migration, uses a face comparison algorithm. This algorithm checks whether the traveller standing in front of the e-gate is the same as the person in the passport photo.

Last change on 16th of December 2025, at 9:03 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Other algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Migration and Integration

Begin date

2009-08

Contact information

[e-mail]

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The purpose of the algorithm is to quickly and securely check whether a traveller wishing to cross the border via the SSPC is the owner of the passport. This concerns travellers with a passport issued by a country entitled to cross the border via the SSPC. The SSPC e-gate compares the photo in the passport chip with a new live photo/scan of the traveller. The data is stored for up to 24 hours. Using the system and algorithm, border checks are automated and carried out in real-time. Border checks are automated and performed instantly on the spot.

Considerations

Automation will make border controls faster and more effective. Travellers can go through checks more smoothly, reducing queues and improving the flow at the airport. Besides the e-gates, travellers can use the manual counter, where manual checks are carried out by the border guard.

Human intervention

The use of e-gates is always done under the supervision of a border guard. The border guard watches during the process and receives advice in making the final decision, which is to grant transit or refer to the second-line border investigation for further questioning. The system only provides the border guard with advice, based on information from the SSPC e-gate and the searched registers (such as the Schengen Information System, Europol, Interpol and national databases). There is no automatic decision and there is always human intervention to advise the decision.

Risk management

The system is accredited in accordance with the Defence Security Policy. This is the Ministry of Defence's policy to protect information, people, buildings and systems from threats such as espionage, sabotage, theft or terrorism.

Legal basis

The basis for the use of the SSPC and processing of special personal data lies in Article 9(2)(g) of the AVG and Article 8(2), Article 13 and Article 16 of the Schengen Borders Code with regard to carrying out border checks.

Links to legal bases

Schengen border code: https://www.inview.nl/openCitation/id2a6b24c229034d2aa10cc359018e282d/verordening-eu-2016-399-betreffende-een-uniecode-voor-de-overschrijding-van-de-grenzen-door-personen-schengengrenscode-artikel-8?ctx=62267b46502f14db2aa05d1ea0971541&undefined

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

During passport reading, all personal data is processed as indicated on the holder page, including the passport photo and machine-readable area data. This includes basic data such as document type, country code, document number, name, nationality, date of birth, sex and validity date. Data on the chip is also read out. The read data is partly transmitted to the border authorities, where the border guard at the supervisors' desk can see the passport photo and photograph of each traveller.

Technical design

The algorithm checks the traveller's identity. When someone passes through an e-gate, the system takes a facial scan. This scan is then converted into a simple profile of the face, for example with information about the shape of the face and where the eyes and nose are located. The chip of the passport also contains such a profile. The e-gate reads this and compares it with the new scan. The system looks at how much both profiles resemble each other. If they match enough, and no problems are found, the doors open and the traveller is allowed to pass through.

External provider

Cognitec version 9.6