NIST Pauses Biometric Tests for Upgrade; July FRTE Results Released

Published Date : 8/5/2025 

NIST has temporarily halted its biometric testing programs, including the Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE), to upgrade its computing infrastructure. Meanwhile, the latest FRTE results highlight significant advancements in facial recognition algorithms from companies like Paravision and QazSmartVision. 

New NIST reports and leaderboard updates for face biometrics accuracy have been published, showcasing the latest advancements in facial recognition algorithms. Paravision, a leading biometric technology company, has once again landed among the most accurate in the world for both authentication and identification.

The company submitted algorithms from its Gen 7 Face Recognition software to the latest editions of both the 1:1 and 1:N tracks of the Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE). These submissions reflect Paravision's continuous commitment to pushing the boundaries of real-world identity performance.

The 1:1 Verification update as of July 16 adds algorithms from India’s Matrix Comsec Pvt Ltd, and South Korea’s PNPSecure and Urielsoft Co. Ltd. New algorithms were also submitted by Daon, Dermalog, Incode, Viante, Hyundai Motor Company, and several others, alongside Paravision. QazSmartVision remains at the top of several categories for biometric accuracy, but Viante’s new entry leaped to first in Visa Yaw≥45 and second in all three other border scenarios.

Paravision ranks second in the Mugshot-Mugshot category, third in Visa Yaw≥45, and in the top ten in six of eight scenarios overall. The 1:N Identification update from July 17 includes a debut from Identy and new algorithms from Idemia, Innovatrics, Hyundai Motor Company, and two others. QazSmartVision still leads in results for five categories, while Innovatrics cracked the top five in two scenarios and the top ten in all others.

Paravision’s algorithm is among the five most accurate in the Mugshot-Mugshot (N=1.6 million), Visa-Border, and Visa-Kiosk benchmarks, and the top ten in three others. Overall, the company claims the best overall result across both tracks among all vendors from the Americas and Europe.

Doug Aley, CEO of Paravision, stated, “These results reflect our dedication to pushing the limits of real-world identity performance. To rank alongside the best globally while leading in transparency, accessibility, and trust is a direct outcome of our team’s focus on both innovation and mission impact.”

The company highlights error reductions from its Gen 6 Face Recognition to the new version, with improvements ranging from 6.9 percent in 1:1 Border-Kiosk comparisons to 66.6 percent in the 1:N Mugshot-Profile 90-degrees scenario.

However, NIST has put its FRTE program on hold, along with the Face Assessment Technology Evaluation (FATE) and the Iris Exchange (IREX) program, as of Monday. All three biometrics testing programs will be closed until September 8, 2025, to allow NIST to update its computing infrastructure and implement new datasets.

This pause is a necessary step to ensure that the testing programs remain at the forefront of biometric technology, providing accurate and reliable evaluations for facial recognition and iris recognition algorithms. The upgrade will enable NIST to handle more complex and diverse datasets, ensuring that the results continue to be relevant and useful for both industry and research communities.

Despite the temporary halt, the latest FRTE results are a testament to the rapid advancements in biometric technology, with companies like Paravision, QazSmartVision, and Viante leading the way in accuracy and innovation. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE)?

A: The Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE) is a program conducted by NIST to evaluate the accuracy and performance of facial recognition algorithms. It includes both 1:1 verification and 1:N identification tests.

Q: Why has NIST paused its biometric testing programs?

A: NIST has paused its biometric testing programs, including FRTE, FATE, and IREX, to upgrade its computing infrastructure and implement new datasets. The programs will resume on September 8, 2025.

Q: Which company's facial recognition algorithms performed the best in the latest FRTE results?

A: QazSmartVision remains at the top of several categories for biometric accuracy, while Paravision and Viante also performed exceptionally well, ranking among the top in various scenarios.

Q: What improvements did Paravision's Gen 7 Face Recognition software achieve compared to its previous version?

A: Paravision's Gen 7 Face Recognition software saw significant error reductions, with improvements ranging from 6.9 percent in 1:1 Border-Kiosk comparisons to 66.6 percent in the 1:N Mugshot-Profile 90-degrees scenario.

Q: What is the significance of the NIST biometric testing programs for the industry?

A: The NIST biometric testing programs, including FRTE, FATE, and IREX, are crucial for evaluating the accuracy and performance of biometric algorithms. They provide valuable insights and benchmarks for both industry and research communities. 

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