Many people dread having a picture taken for a passport or when posing for a driver's license photo, but they may be surprised if they are specifically instructed not to smile for the shot. Learn more about a neutral facial expression requirement and why this policy may help protect citizens and prevent some instances of fraud.
Can You Smile for a Driver's License Photo or Passport?
According to the U.S. Department of State web site, a passport photo has several requirements, including but not limited to:
- A full-face view
- Both eyes must be open
- A hat should not be worn unless worn daily for religious purposes
- The facial expression must be neutral
According to a U.S. News May 27, 2009 article, at least four states in America have enacted legislation that prohibits smiling or only allows for slight smiling for a DMV photo:
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- Nevada
- Virginia
Facial Recognition Software May Not Recognize Different Smiles
A picture coupled with modern computer technology can rapidly identify a person by matching photos in a database, perhaps as quickly as three seconds. According to a Carnegie Mellon University article entitled More Than Facial Recognition, studies have been conducted in which some photos of people on the street could be matched to tagged Facebook photos. Additional information found on some of these strangers included social security numbers and interests by combining cloud computing and social network sites such as dating services in which people used pseudonyms. These recognition systems tend to be more accurate with a frontal, clear view of the face in which the person has a neutral facial expression.
According to a March 7, 2011 document associated with REAL ID Act of 2005, State Department of Motor Vehicles departments should all have face recognition software by January 13, 2013 in order to identify people with multiple social security numbers or multiple identity documents. Driver's license photographs issued after May 2008, and in some states earlier, contain an integrated computer chip with a digital photograph. The U.S. News article cited above mentions that the Illinois DMV, which launched this new software in 1999, has prevented 6,000 people from walking away with a fraudulent driver's license. This number has probably risen since that report.
Curious About How One's Own Face Matches?
Perhaps readers might wish to see possible matches to one's own photos. Google images is just one free search engine in which computer users can copy and paste a photograph to search for possible matches. Experiment with smiling photos and those with a neutral expression. The results might be unexpected, comical, or even horrifying, depending on the photo and one's own perspective and matches.
Neutral Facial Expression Required for Many Identification Photos
Although getting a driver's license or traveling abroad might be something worth smiling about, don't expect to get to show one's enthusiasm in the picture. Passports and DMV photos may be compared with pictures in a database as a security measure to prevent fraudulent issuance of an ID and the photo may be used for other identification purposes. Although facial recognition software can often quickly detect and identify people through photos, a positive identification is often more accurate without a smile.
Sources:
- Carnegie Mellon University article "More Than Facial Recognition"
- Department of Homeland Security article "Real ID Final Rule"
- Electronic Privacy Information Center article "Face Recognition"
- Popular Science August 5, 2011 article "Facial Recognition Software Takes One Glance at You and Brings Up Your Facebook Profile"
- U.S. Department of State "Passport Photo ID Requirements"
- U.S. News May 27, 2009 article "Four States Forbid Smiling for Driver's License Photos"
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
Join the Conversation