The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released guidelines on modern detection methods designed to catch manipulated photos from face-morphing software.

Face morphing, which involves using software to blend photos of different people’s faces into a single synthesized image, is a growing method that perpetrators use to commit identity fraud.

Such software can make it easier for criminals to bypass identity verification systems in buildings and assume another person’s identity at borders, in airports, and in other settings.

NIST’s new publication, Face Analysis Technology Evaluation (FATE) MORPH 4B: Considerations for Implementing Morph Detection in Operations (NISTIR 8584), is a lay-language introduction to morphs and discusses ways to deal with them. The document is intended to guide organizations toward effective deployment of tools and practices in situations where morphed photographs might appear. It also covers what organizations could consider doing after a morph detector flags a potentially fake photo.

“Some modern morph detection algorithms are good enough that they could be useful in detecting morphs in real-world operational situations,” said Mei Ngan, an author of the publication. “Our publication is a set of recommendations that can be tailored to a specific situation.”

Access more information via NIST’s recent news release.