NextgenID
Knowledge Base

July 11, 2023
AI Impersonation: A Threat to Identity Proofing and the Promise of NextgenID’s Supervised Remote Identity Proofing (SRIP) Solution

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various systems has provided incredible value in our rapidly evolving digital landscape. AI has revolutionized many areas of our personal lives and business but has also introduced many risks. A key risk is the potential for AI-based impersonation during identity proofing, especially for Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL-2) sessions.

Identity proofing, the process of validating an individual's claimed identity, is a safeguard against fraud and security breaches. It's especially critical in an IAL-2 proofing session, where the consequences of any shortcomings or failures in the IAL-2 proofing session are severe. IAL-2 demands stringent evidence requirements and verification procedures to ensure the claimed identity matches the real identity. But what happens when AI tools start impersonating individuals during this process?

Risks of AI-based Impersonation

AI has demonstrated the ability to mimic human behaviors with increasing sophistication, even impersonating individuals to the point of fooling biometric and identity verification systems. Machine learning algorithms can be trained to replicate an individual's voice, facial features, and even handwriting, potentially tricking traditional identity-proofing systems.

In 2021, cybercriminals leveraged AI software to mimic the voice of a CEO in a German energy firm. They convinced the company's UK-based executive to wire €220,000 ($~$260,000) to a Hungarian supplier for an urgent transaction. By the time the deception was discovered, the funds had been transferred and dispersed through other countries. That was 2 years ago!

Reports by the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warn of increased use of AI to defraud online interviewing for remote work positions. In 2023, a deepfake of Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law. This caused widespread panic and confusion, highlighting how AI-based impersonation can destabilize societal structures and incite chaos.

Mitigating the Risks with Advanced Identity Proofing

Advanced identity-proofing solutions are critical to eliminating AI-based impersonation risk. NextgenID’s Supervised Remote Identity Proofing (SRIP) solution, also known as Onsite Attended, goes beyond traditional identity proofing by leveraging multiple points of identity validation coupled with document authentication and biometric verification to significantly reduce the likelihood of successful impersonation.

NextgenID’s SRIP solution employs real-time supervision throughout the identity-proofing process, allowing a trained agent to scrutinize potential indicators of fraud that automated systems miss. By using biometric verification, SRIP ensures that the identity-proofing process is as secure as possible. AI tools cannot easily replicate biometrics, making them a robust deterrent against AI-based impersonation attempts.

Benefits of Advanced Identity Proofing Solutions

Adopting advanced identity-proofing solutions like NextgenID’s SRIP provides numerous benefits:

1. Increased accuracy: Human oversight and collecting and verifying multiple factors during identity proofing, including biometrics, significantly reduce the probability of fraudulent identities slipping through the cracks.

2. Enhanced efficiency: SRIP streamlines the identity-proofing process, reducing time and complexity while maintaining high-security standards.

3. Improved security: With its advanced features, SRIP provides robust protection against AI-based impersonation and other sophisticated cyber threats.

In an era where AI-based impersonation poses significant threats to identity proofing, embracing advanced solutions like NextgenID's SRIP isn’t an option – it is the solution. These tools provide a robust defense against sophisticated impersonation attempts, ensuring the highest level of security without compromising efficiency or user experience.