Resolution-Aware Deep Learning with Feature Space Optimization for Reliable Identity Verification in Electronic Know Your Customer Processes

In modern digital transactions involving government agencies, financial institutions, and commercial enterprises, reliable identity verification is essential to ensure security and trust. Traditional methods, such as submitting photocopies of ID cards, are increasingly susceptible to identity theft and fraud. To address these challenges, this study proposes a novel and robust identity verification framework that integrates super-resolution preprocessing, a convolutional neural network (CNN), and Monte Carlo dropout-based Bayesian uncertainty estimation for enhanced facial recognition in electronic know your customer (e-KYC) processes. The key contribution of this research lies in its ability to handle low-resolution and degraded facial images simulating real-world conditions where image quality is inconsistent while providing confidence-aware predictions to support transparent and risk-aware decision making. The proposed model is trained on facial images resized to 24 × 24 pixels, with a super-resolution module enhancing feature clarity prior to classification. By incorporating Monte Carlo dropout, the system estimates predictive uncertainty, addressing critical limitations of conventional black-box deep learning models. Experimental evaluations confirmed the effectiveness of the framework, achieving a classification accuracy of 99.7%, precision of 99.2%, recall of 99.3%, and an AUC score of 99.5% under standard testing conditions. The model also demonstrated strong robustness against noise and image blur, maintaining reliable performance even under challenging input conditions. In addition, the proposed system is designed to comply with international digital identity standards, including the Identity Assurance Level (IAL) and Authenticator Assurance Level (AAL), ensuring practical applicability in regulated environments. Overall, this research contributes a scalable, secure, and interpretable solution that advances the application of deep learning and uncertainty modeling in real-world e-KYC systems.