Method, system and computer program for comparing images

An apparatus for use in verifying whether a user of a device corresponds to a previously authenticated user, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory including computer program code;
• the apparatus having access to a first image and a second image, the first image being an image acquired from an identity document comprising an image of the previously authenticated user and data identifying the previously authenticated user, the identity document having been validated in respect of the previously authenticated user by a trusted authority, whereby to previously authenticate the user, and the apparatus being arranged to derive, from the identity document, the data identifying the previously authenticated user, wherein the second image is an image captured by the device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:
• compare the first image to the second image, whereby to determine whether they are images of the same user;
• and
• when it is determined that the first and second images are images of the same user:
• encode one of the first image and the second image using a one-way encoding algorithm, thereby to generate an encoded image;
• store the encoded image as a validated encoded image of the previously authenticated user in a storage device together with an identifier for the previously authenticated user, the validated encoded image being for use in a subsequent verification event for the previously authenticated user;
• and
• arrange for the derived data to be stored, together with the identifier for the previously authenticated user, whereby to enable the data to be retrieved in a subsequent verification event for the previously authenticated user.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processing system having access to a first image and a second image, cause the processing system to perform a method of verifying whether a user of a device corresponds to a previously authenticated user, the method comprising:

• comparing the first image to the second image, whereby to determine whether they are images of the same user, wherein the first image is an image acquired from an identity document comprising an image of the previously authenticated user and data identifying the previously authenticated user, the identity document having been validated in respect of the previously authenticated user by a trusted authority, whereby to previously authenticate the user, and wherein the second image is an image captured by the device;
• and
• when it is determined that the first and second images are images of the same user:
• encoding one of the first image and the second image using a one-way encoding algorithm, thereby to generate an encoded image;
• storing the encoded image as a validated encoded image of the previously authenticated user in a storage device together with an identifier for the previously authenticated user, the validated encoded image being for use in a subsequent verification event for the previously authenticated user;
• and
• arranging for derived data to be stored, together with the identifier for the previously authenticated user, whereby to enable the data to be retrieved in a subsequent verification event for the previously authenticated user, wherein the derived data is derived by the processing system from the identity document, the derived data identifying the previously authenticated user.