Korean banks reject iPhone X face ID due to security concerns

Twenty Korean banks have rejected the facial recognition security feature of Apple’s iPhone X due to security concerns, according to a report by the Korea Herald.

Following reports that the security of the new phone’s Face ID feature has been breached, a number of commercial and online banks said they would not provide the facial authentication option to authenticate customers logging into their accounts.

“It was difficult for us to adopt the biometric technology (of iPhone X) abruptly, since it normally takes some time to undergo several security procedures before adopting a new technology,” said an official at Kookmin Bank. “Plus, the phone’s facial authentication technology was not fully proven.”

Industry watchers and banks say things may change in the future. “… with the rise of iPhone X sales and its security technologies proven, banks will have to follow the digital trend,” said Kim Jong-ki, a researcher specializing in the mobile industry at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade.

Article Topics

banking  |  biometrics  |  Face ID  |  facial recognition  |  Korea  |  mobile app