The National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) published a new federal government regulation this Wednesday (28th), establishing that the registration or maintenance of any cell phone line in Brazil will require the use of facial recognition starting in 2027.
This new regulation specifically aims to combat identity fraud and scams that use false data in the mobile telephony sector. The requirement will apply to both individuals and individual microentrepreneurs (MEIs).
Leonardo Araújo de Assis, CEO of BioStation, stated in an interview with Olhar Digital that the Anatel determination represents a significant advance in combating SIM swap scams and identity fraud.
The verification process will use 'liveness proof' technology to ensure that the person is physically present during the registration act. After capturing the facial image, this information will be compared with public and private databases. This validation can occur in physical stores, through applications, or on the carriers' websites.
In situations where facial recognition fails or is unfeasible, alternative checking procedures will be made available.
The transition to the new rule will be implemented progressively. Anatel has defined deadlines: those who do not complete the validation by the end of 2028 risk having their line suspended, and starting in January 2029, the line may be canceled. Technical Standard GT-SEG.2026.11 is available online.
The specialist highlighted that facial recognition has reached a level of maturity that considerably raises the security standard. However, he stressed that the major challenge lies in making this technology resistant to more complex attacks, such as AI-manipulated videos or deepfakes, without compromising the consumer experience. For this reason, Assis emphasized the need to adopt a layered approach.
He suggested that palm biometrics, which analyzes the pattern of hand veins—an internal characteristic impossible to replicate in photos or videos—can be combined with facial recognition. This combination would be ideal for reinforcing critical operations, such as portability and SIM swapping, especially in in-person services.
According to the specialist, Brazil already possesses pioneering knowledge and technologies for this purpose; the decisive factor will be effective implementation. For Assis, implementation includes integration with carrier systems, safeguarding personal data, and applying each type of biometrics where it offers the greatest benefit. He concluded that the Anatel decision creates the path, but success will depend on how it is put into practice.
