Method of indentifying an individual

A method of identifying an individual comprising successively:

• a) an identification step (1201) during which the identity of the individual to be identified is read;
• b) an obtaining step (1203) during which there are obtained a transformation function (Γ) and an encrypted image (302a, 302b) previously recorded which corresponds to the said identity read and which was obtained by transformation of an image of a biometric data item (100) of the said individual into at least two encrypted images (302a, 302b) by the transformation function (Γ), the encrypted images (302a, 302b) being such that visual recognition of the forms of the said biometric data item requires the superimposition of all the encrypted images (302a, 302b);
• c) a capture step (1202) during which another image of the biometric data (400, 700) to be identified is captured;
• d) a transformation step (1204) during which the other image thus captured is transformed into at least one encrypted image to be identified (500, 802) using the transformation function (Γ);
• e) a superimposition step (1206) during which a superimposition image resulting from the superimposition of the encrypted image/images (302a, 302b) recorded and the encrypted image/images to be identified (500, 802) is formed;
• and
• f) a verification step (1208) during which the superimposition image thus formed is verified;
• i) in the case of positive verification, an identification step (1210) during which a decision with regard to the identification of the individual is taken on the basis of the said verification step (1208);
• and
• ii) in the case of negative verification, a step of improving the alignment of the encrypted image/images recorded (302a, 302b) with respect to the encrypted image/images to be identified (500, 802) and a looping back step (1214).