The KINEGRAM security device can now be designed for optical machine authentication, by including features suitable for machine-based authentication such as special metallization patterns and UV print. These features can be inspected using standardized light sources in commercially-available reader devices.

According to recent annual reports of the World Tourism Organization, it can be safely assumed that – despite the ongoing repercussions and effects of the Covid-19 pandemic – the number of international tourist arrivals will reach 1.8 billion over the next 15 years. The large majority of these travelers is nowadays using machine readable passports.

Against this background, there are several reasons why automated optical machine authentication of documents is important:

• Convenience - Travelers are able to move through the border crossings more quickly
• Efficiency - Airports do not need to install extra resources proportionately to the increasing number of travelers
• Security – machine-readable documents can be authenticated with certainty, allowing maximized security

Automatic document inspection processes as well as the machine-assisted manual inspection processes can be made more reliable and secure if the document readers are capable of inspecting complex security features in the KINEGRAM.

• Physical security features are compatible with automated processes and a more digital future
• Combined electronic and optical machine authentication is ensured
• The KINEGRAM can be designed to enhance the efficiency and security of optical machine authentication

The ICAO NTWG has recently issued a technical report on «Best Practice Guidelines for Optical Machine Authentication». The idea of this report is to present guidelines for the standardization of processes using commercially available document scanners used at automatic or semi-automatic border controls. These document scanners perform both electronic inspection of the chip and optical inspection of the physical features like the KINEGRAM using three different light sources:

• White light
• Infra-red
• Ultra-violet

Within a few seconds, using software algorithms or check routines, the document model (i.e. document type, country and date of issuance) is identified using optical character recognition and compared with a reference document stored in the authentication database. Pass/Fail criteria are predefined so that a decision can be made on the authenticity of the document.