Facial recognition has gained traction over the years thanks to better software and hardware. In the future, a casino online may consider using it to verify the identities of their users. The issue now that some people have is that facial recognition is invading their privacy.
Is it? Today, let us tackle the issues and find out which situations are appropriate for facial recognition technology. Are there situations where facial recognition has its rightful place?
1. Office Security
Offices can benefit from facial recognition. Instead of using IDs, they can use facial recognition technology to manage the access of people to specific locations in the office. This method applies very well in places where information or assets are critical. For example—a server room. It is not appropriate to let everyone have access to a server room, as one malicious personnel can wreak havoc. Just imagine what a single person can do if he/she deletes files, takes servers down or uploads a virus on the servers. It can cost millions or even billions of dollars in damages.
Today, many companies use RFID cards to open doors to these facilities. While the security team can easily disable many people’s access, it is easy to steal an RFID card from authorized personnel and then use it to access the server room. With facial recognition, unauthorized access cannot happen—only authorized employees can open the door. Anyone who gets inside who should not be there can easily be flagged.
2. Police Operations
People who work in the police force must know who they are dealing with. It is possible for them to scan the face of someone in public and then let the computer database tell them if this is one of the people who are running from the law. Facial recognition does not only help police properly identify a person but also access his/her records if the person does not want to cooperate.
There are many occasions that the police mistook someone’s identity—all because they looked at a photo and thought that the person they saw was the same one they were looking for. These errors resulted in inappropriate arrests. With facial recognition technology, this error is not likely to happen. The police can scan the face, and the computer will tell them if this is the person they are looking for or not. The technology will help reduce the error of misidentification. Because of this, people who did not commit a crime will not suffer.
3. Aviation and Transport
The 911 attack is one of the worst in history. It taught the aviation industry that they are vulnerable. Facial recognition technology is an excellent system to reduce the likelihood of hijacking or terrorist attacks. With facial recognition, airlines can have access to a special database of wanted individuals or those convicted of crimes and on the lam.
Once a passenger is at the airport, the computers can identify if that person is a wanted individual or not. If the person is a threat, the airline company can call its security personnel to isolate the person and his companions. The facial recognition system can have many cameras in the airport that scan faces, not just during the boarding process.
4. Retail Security
Retail stores can also benefit from facial recognition in many ways. For one, they can use the system to identify wanted criminals and people. For example, malls can use cameras to scan the crowd. If the computer identifies one that has a record, the mall security officers can take action. They can isolate the criminal and wait for the police to arrive. With this technology, the mall operator can improve the security level of their customers. There will be less likelihood of bomb attacks, as people who come in can easily be identified.
5. Device Security
The last case where facial recognition technology is acceptable is device security. If this technology gets perfected, thieves will have little reason to steal devices. Well, they can steal mobile devices and tablets, but they can only sell them for parts. Not for use. If the buyer cannot open or hack into the device to operate it, there is no reason for him/her to buy it at a high price from the thief; this discourages thieves from stealing.
Facial recognition technology can also improve the security of a person’s data. Since the thief cannot open the device, there is no way he/she can access financial or personally identifiable information. Without access, the thief cannot steal the owner’s identity.
Summary
Facial recognition does not invade someone’s privacy, provided that authorities use it properly. If anything, it increases the level of security, and thus it makes people safer. Facial recognition technology is not perfect. It is far from being flawless. However, it will not move forward unless people do not use it. The future of security is the proper identification of a person. If used for good reasons and with acceptable reasons of measure, facial recognition technology can change the world and improve our lives as far as security is concerned.