Page 24 - Security Today, March 2019

buildings, public events and schools. The true power and potential of facial recognition in these kinds of venues is showcased when we consider just what these systems can accomplish in regards to real time watch-list detection. In this use, a camera (much like those we currently see in any number of public spaces) scans crowds to read faces, verify identities and run this information against watch lists, such as sex offender registries or internal “banned” lists.
Facial recognition is also a great tool for retailers and other busi- nesses to greatly enhance customer experiences. Anytime a VIP cus- tomer enters a venue, they can be instantly identified so that experi- ences can be maximized and their preferences available to staff to help them better serve the customer. Casinos are using this technol- ogy to identify VIP guests at the door, and they are pairing it with added layers of identity verification, running individual’s identities against internal banned lists and watch lists, such as Self-Exclusion, OFAC, and more.
Similarly, Delta recently unveiled facial recognition technology to allow passengers to check in at self-service kiosks, drop checked baggage, and serve as identification at the TSA checkpoint. Facial recognition is marrying security with customer experience and im- proving both.
These uses of facial recognition technology clearly offer benefits to business and consumers alike. Yet too often in the news media, however, we get only the more sensational or “hot button” approach- es to reporting on new technologies as opposed to more sober analy- sis of why these technologies are being developed in the first place.
Recently, the pop singer Taylor Swift was in the news because of a facial recognition kiosk that was placed outside her concert venues. The screens on the kiosks played film clips of her videos and some of her concert footage. Those who stopped to watch the footage had their fac- es scanned and run against a database of known Taylor Swift stalkers.
The ACLU raised concerns over this use of facial recognition with- out the knowledge of those interacting with the kiosk screens and this, was, of course what made the headlines in the reporting. But cameras in public spaces have long been a part of everyday life in the name of crime prevention and security. It could be argued whether the use of fa- cial recognition technology at a concert was really that much different.
Given recent terrorist events at concerts worldwide, would a majority of concert-goers be against a technology that could potentially alert security personnel to violent or unstable individuals?
The possibilities for facial recognition are endless and can en- hance security across a broad range of industries and applications.
Certainly recent events have placed school security foremost in the minds of all of us. Here again, more accessible, more affordable and simple-to-implement facial recognition technology can give our schools a potentially life-saving security tool. Facial recognition can ensure unauthorized individuals do not have access to the campus— a key factor in the spate of recent school shootings. Similarly, vio- lence by disgruntled former employees could potentially be thwarted if flagged individuals were not allowed access to the workplace and security were alerted, through facial recognition, that a flagged indi- vidual was nearing the property.
On a more everyday level, for example, the technology can also be utilized to ensure parents who may have lost custody are prevented from illegally taking children from the school. It could also be used to help reduce and discourage drug activity around school campuses and to keep sex offenders away.
Financial institutions could greatly reduce fraudulent transac- tions on premises by simply matching the face in front of the teller window to that on file. Clubs could immediately identify VIP custom- ers as they approach the door as well as those who may have been placed on banned lists.
And all of this can be accomplished seamlessly, simply and af- fordably, with no inconvenience to customers and many potential benefits. Most of all, the security of the businesses and public spaces we regularly utilize will be greatly enhanced. I like to think of fa- cial recognition as a better answer to the office ID
badge or key card you have to swipe to enter a building.
A better answer that is staring back at us in the mirror.
Denis Petrov is the co-founder and CEO of IDScan.net.
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