CodeFace 2

Project in development following a successful TrustFace proof of concept of CodeFace– technology that enables embedding a secret message within facial images. Building on the original CodeFace architecture, which utilizes deep neural networks to imperceptibly embed and reliably decode hidden messages in facial photos, the CodeFace 2 aim is to advance this technology to the next stage of development, focusing on enhancing security of portrait photographs on ID/travel documents, allowing integrity on-the-spot verification via smartphones– with or without internet access. 

The CodeFace technology, developed at ISR-UC within the scope of projects in partnership with INCM, has created a system for encoding and decoding an image for covered communication, that is, with the technology in question it is possible to hide a secret message in an image and transmit it, so that the receiver can, using a camera, for example from a mobile device, decode the hidden information. 

This technology was designed and optimized for the creation of a security element in ID and travel documents, for example passports or civil identification cards, such as the Citizen Card. This security element then makes it possible to encode a message hidden in the portrait photograph, with an almost imperceptible change in appearance, and that allows the inspection authorities, or any other authorised person, to validate the integrity of the photograph of the document, by being able to confirm that the message hidden in it corresponds to the expected message, by respecting a set of rules previously defined by the authority issuing the document.