On Day 9, we’ll add face authentication to enhance security. This will allow users to unlock features or verify identity using their face. We’ll also explore privacy measures for handling face data securely.
1. Why Face Authentication?
✅ Enhanced Security: Prevents unauthorized use.
✅ Seamless Access: No need for passwords or PINs.
✅ Personalized Features: Unlocks premium avatar customizations.
We’ll use:
🔹 Expo Face Detector (for local face recognition)
🔹 TensorFlow.js Face Recognition (for advanced biometric authentication)
2. Installing Face Authentication Dependencies
Step 1: Install Expo Face Detector
expo install expo-face-detector
Step 2: Install TensorFlow.js for Face Matching
npm install @tensorflow/tfjs @tensorflow-models/facemesh
3. Setting Up Face Authentication
Step 1: Detect a User’s Face
Modify FaceAuth.js
:
import { Camera } from 'expo-camera';
import * as FaceDetector from 'expo-face-detector';
import { useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';
export default function FaceAuth({ onAuthenticate }) {
const [hasPermission, setHasPermission] = useState(null);
useEffect(() => {
(async () => {
const { status } = await Camera.requestPermissionsAsync();
setHasPermission(status === 'granted');
})();
}, []);
const handleFacesDetected = ({ faces }) => {
if (faces.length > 0) {
onAuthenticate(true); // Authentication success
}
};
if (hasPermission === null) return <View />;
if (hasPermission === false) return <Text>No access to camera</Text>;
return (
<Camera
style={{ flex: 1 }}
type={Camera.Constants.Type.front}
onFacesDetected={handleFacesDetected}
faceDetectorSettings={{ mode: FaceDetector.Constants.Mode.fast }}
/>
);
}
4. Matching a Face with a Stored Image
Step 1: Capture a User’s Face for Registration
Modify UserRegistration.js
:
const registerUserFace = async (imageUri) => {
await AsyncStorage.setItem('registeredFace', imageUri);
alert('Face registered successfully!');
};
Step 2: Compare Faces for Authentication
Modify FaceAuth.js
:
import * as ImageManipulator from 'expo-image-manipulator';
import AsyncStorage from '@react-native-async-storage/async-storage';
const authenticateFace = async (capturedImage) => {
const storedFace = await AsyncStorage.getItem('registeredFace');
if (!storedFace) return alert('No registered face found.');
const similarityScore = compareFaces(storedFace, capturedImage);
if (similarityScore > 0.8) {
alert('Authentication successful!');
onAuthenticate(true);
} else {
alert('Face not recognized.');
}
};
5. Implementing Face Lock for Premium Features
Modify AvatarCustomization.js
:
import FaceAuth from './FaceAuth';
export default function AvatarCustomization({ onUpdate }) {
const [isAuthenticated, setIsAuthenticated] = useState(false);
return (
<View>
{isAuthenticated ? (
<Picker ... /> // Customization options
) : (
<FaceAuth onAuthenticate={setIsAuthenticated} />
)}
</View>
);
}
6. Implementing Privacy & Data Protection
✅ Avoid storing face data on servers – keep it local.
✅ Encrypt stored face data using expo-secure-store
:
expo install expo-secure-store
Modify FaceAuth.js
:
import * as SecureStore from 'expo-secure-store';
const saveFaceData = async (faceData) => {
await SecureStore.setItemAsync('faceData', JSON.stringify(faceData));
};
const getFaceData = async () => {
return JSON.parse(await SecureStore.getItemAsync('faceData'));
};
✅ Allow users to delete their stored face data:
const deleteFaceData = async () => {
await SecureStore.deleteItemAsync('faceData');
alert('Face data deleted.');
};
7. Testing Face Authentication
Step 1: Start the App
expo start
Step 2: Register a Face
- Capture a face image.
- Store it for future authentication.
Step 3: Authenticate
- Restart the app.
- Check if the face unlocks premium features.
8. Optimizing Face Recognition Performance
✅ Reduce Processing Load
faceDetectorSettings={{ detectLandmarks: FaceDetector.Constants.Landmarks.none }}
✅ Use WebAssembly Backend for Faster Computation
tf.setBackend('wasm');
9. Key Concepts Covered
✅ Added face authentication for unlocking features.
✅ Implemented secure local face storage.
✅ Applied privacy measures for face data protection.
10. Next Steps: Preparing for Deployment
Tomorrow, we’ll:
🔹 Optimize app size for production.
🔹 Publish the app to Google Play & App Store.
11. References & Learning Resources
12. SEO Keywords:
React Native face authentication, AI face unlock mobile app, secure AI avatars, real-time face recognition, privacy in AI face detection.