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Viisage Selected to Implement Face Recognition in Pakistan's Smart Machine Readable Passport and National ID Program
BILLERICA, Mass. --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 30, 2004 --
To Ensure National Security, Pakistan Government Sponsors NADRA Chip in the Passport Program
Viisage (Nasdaq: VISG), a leading provider of advanced technology identity solutions, today announced that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), an independent corporate organization in Pakistan, has signed a contract with Viisage to integrate the Company's state-of-the art face recognition technology into Pakistan's smart passport and national ID program. The new program, headed by NADRA and sponsored by the Pakistani Government, is designed to mitigate terrorism and ethnic violence by helping the country enhance national security and prevent problems related to identity theft, fraud and the use of unauthorized identity documents.
In the wake of heightened concerns over the misuse of identity and identity documents, the government of Pakistan has taken a proactive approach to the problem by implementing smart, machine readable radio frequency ID (RFID) passports and national ID cards that integrate multiple biometrics. NADRA now issues state-of-the-art, machine readable passports and national IDs that include face and finger biometric technologies to ensure authorized applicants are uniquely tied to the secure identity document issued.
"Addressing the growing problem of identity theft and fraud is critical in the Middle East and South Asian countries. We have taken significant steps in Pakistan to protect our citizens and show social responsibility to the international community by verifying a person is who he or she claims to be before allowing that individual to enter and exit the country," said Brigadier (Retd.) Saleem Ahmad Moeen, chairman of NADRA. "After an extensive evaluation of various face recognition options, we selected Viisage based on the strength of its technology, the overall company approach and responsiveness to our needs."
Chairman Moeen continued, "Our partnership and joint strategy is already receiving recognition. Recently, I presented the new passport solution at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Conference in Montreal, Canada and we were noted as a leader in implementing ICAO's vision of a smart passport, integrating RFID, face recognition and fingerprint technologies."
NADRA will use Viisage's FaceTOOLS(R) product to conduct a one-to-one face recognition search against an applicant's recorded image in the national ID database. Additionally, Viisage's FaceEXPLORER(R) will be used for one-to-many checking to cleanse the national ID database, ensure that duplicates are uncovered, and screen images against watch lists. Pakistan's national ID database contains more than 40 million images, making this one of the largest worldwide face recognition projects to date.
After launching its Machine Readable Passport in Pakistan, NADRA is now in a position to market its product internationally. The product contains a unique 2-D bar code and encrypted data in the chip, which has biometrics and other security features.
"NADRA is a valued partner and our visions have aligned perfectly in helping Pakistan protect its citizens and secure its borders," said Bernard Bailey, president and CEO of Viisage. "Pakistan's national ID and passport program demonstrates leadership in implementing advanced technologies to solve identity problems and further establishes a standard for other countries to follow."
About Viisage
Viisage (NASDAQ: VISG) delivers advanced technology identity solutions for governments, law enforcement agencies and businesses concerned with enhancing security, reducing identity theft, and protecting personal privacy. Viisage creates solutions using secure credentials and face recognition technologies that quickly, reliably, and accurately identify individuals. With over 3,000 installations worldwide, Viisage's identity solutions stand out as a result of the Company's industry-leading technology and unique understanding of customer needs.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this document and those made from time to time by Viisage through its senior management are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements concerning future plans or results are necessarily only estimates and actual results could differ materially from expectations. Certain factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among other things, the size and timing of contract awards, performance on contracts, availability and cost of key components, unanticipated results from audits of the financial results of acquired companies, changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles, outcomes of government reviews, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, dependence on large contracts and a limited number of customers, lengthy sales and implementation cycles, market acceptance of new or enhanced products and services, proprietary technology and changing competitive conditions, system performance, management of growth, dependence on key personnel, ability to obtain project financing, general economic and political conditions and other factors affecting spending by customers, the unpredictable nature of working with government agencies and other risks, uncertainties and factors including those described from time to time in Viisage's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, Viisage's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Viisage undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
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