Air France plans to experiment with using facial recognition in place of boarding passes

[Polycount]

Privacy is getting increasingly difficult to preserve nowadays, and not just due to the online data collection efforts that companies like Google and Facebook lead. Even in the real world, surveillance, biometric, and facial recognition tech is advancing quickly.

Amazon has caught quite a bit of flak for the way they've allowed police departments to use their "Rekognition" facial recognition services in the past, and entire countries (such as China) use similar tech regularly.

Now, this sort of technology is making its way further into the realm of US airports by way of Air France. According to an Engadget report, the flight company is planning to experiment with using facial recognition in place of traditional boarding passes at the JFK Airport in New York and the George Bush International Airport in Houston.

On the one hand, some travelers may have privacy concerns with being forced to submit to a facial scan, but on the other hand, Air France feels this is a step forward; a way to make the travel experience "less stressful and more secure" for their customers.

Regarding Air France's specific rollout plans, if their early test is successful, they hope to see 100 percent of all US airports adopt facial recognition tech (at their terminals) by the end of 2020. By the end of this year, they're aiming for 93 percent adoption.

We'll keep you updated on the situation and let you know how Air France's early test works out.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/80911-air-france-plans-experiment-using-facial-recognition-place.html

 

[Lounds]

Waiting for all crazy people with something to hide to moan about privacy of their face.

 

[psycros]

Waiting for all crazy people with something to hide to moan about privacy of their face.

Its not about your face - its about the freedom to not be watched every moment of your life. But by all means go ahead and install that Alexa, Google Echo and have a webcam in your bedroom with no security on it. I'm sure it'll be fine.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

I am currently in Philippines before heading to Bali.

The boarding process requires only an email address, social security number or itenerary number to print new tickets.

Facial recognition can work, but it's gonna be very problematic in Asia. My girlfriend's face recognition can be opened by several of her female family members.

 

[Jeff Re]

This is how it starts...

 

[mbrowne5061]

Waiting for all crazy people with something to hide to moan about privacy of their face.

Its not about your face - its about the freedom to not be watched every moment of your life. But by all means go ahead and install that Alexa, Google Echo and have a webcam in your bedroom with no security on it. I'm sure it'll be fine.

Travel via plane is a privilege not a right. you don't want this, then fly on different air line. If they all adopt this (which I think they will), well, be prepared to not fly. Either way, I promise you that you are already having your face scanned in any international airport you go through, just by walking past the security cameras.