Face Match Algorithms: 1:1, 1:N and Liveness in 2026
1:1 face match confirms identity. 1:N face match identifies someone in a database. Liveness proves they are alive. They are not interchangeable.
Face recognition has three distinct use cases in KYC, and confusing them leads to bad architecture and regulatory questions.
1:1 verification
Compare the live selfie to the portrait on the submitted ID. This is what most KYC flows need. The goal is high accuracy on a single comparison, not searching a database.
1:N identification
Search a selfie against an entire database to find duplicates or flagged identities. This is powerful for deduplication and fraud detection but introduces privacy and consent risks most regulators scrutinise heavily.
Why liveness is separate
Face match tells you the faces are similar. Liveness tells you the face belongs to a real, present human. A deepfake can pass 1:1 if the liveness layer is weak. Our biometric liveness product treats them as independent checks.
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