Singapore has added face verification as a two-factor authentication (2FA) option to log into SingPass, an account residents use to access e-government services. They also can choose to send their SMS one-time password (OTP) to another SingPass user's mobile number, which is offered to help less digitally savvy users navigate the platform with external assistance.
The two additional 2FA options were introduced as part of the government's efforts to support a digitally inclusive society, said Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) in a statement Wednesday. The government agency is responsible for the country's ICT and smart nation rollouts,
SingPass users will be able to log into their account first by entering their ID and password, then by scanning their face on an internet-connected computer equipped with a webcam or a mobile device with a front-facing camera. If they do not have access to any of these systems, they can visit selected public locations equipped with the service, including IRAS Taxpayer and Business Service Centre and CPFB's Bishan Service Centre, with more locations to be added progressively.
GovTech said the face verification technology[1] was integrated with security features to safeguard against fraud, such as liveness detection capabilities to detect and block the use of photographs, videos, or masks during the verification process.
The added option not only would be useful to support less digitally savvy users who would not need to key in additional information such as OTPs, but also could facilitate Singaporeans living abroad and might not have a locally-registered number to receive SMS OTPs, said National Digital Identity[2]'s senior director Kwok Quek Sin.
The need to better assist the less digitally savvy also led to the inclusion of "multi-user SMS OTP", where SingPass users can link their account