Let’s Face It!
Facial recognition - a game changer
The public is not aware, but facial recognition technology is being introduced at airports worldwide. It’s proving a game changer. One such system already made its first capture at Washington Dulles International Airport.
In August an arriving male passenger presented a genuine French passport. But the new facial recognition system noted the man’s face didn’t match the passport photograph.
The system alerted officers, who searched the man. This turned up a hidden Congo ID in his shoe. The system at Dulles is part of a broader US pilot scheme. A total of 14 airports are using facial recognition to screen people arriving in the US. The US is also looking to use the system to check people have left the country.
Yet, facial recognition systems also have the possibility of enhancing the passenger experience. With appropriate integration, facial recognition could provide that elusive ‘one-stop’ service. Resulting in ease of boarding, immigration and security clearance.
Indeed, China is moving in that direction. This month Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, introduced a new passenger clearance system. Deployed in Terminal One, this uses facial recognition. The process includes unassisted passenger check-in, luggage check-in, security and final boarding check.
Meanwhile, paperless boarding is being rolled out by British Airways. Self-service biometric boarding gates use facial recognition to check passengers. One boarding station handles five passengers at a time. There is no need for a boarding ticket.
BA has used facial recognition on domestic flights at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 since June 2017. The check-in process is quicker and less stressful because passengers don’t need to fumble with documents.
The technology recognises your face through passport, visa or government ID photos already in the system. To get through, you only stand on a mat, and the gate opens if you're approved.
In one test, a facial recognition system boarded 350 passengers for an A380 in 20 minutes or half the usual time. Also, systems needn’t be too complicated. One example operated with iPads mounted on poles. Don't be surprised when you consider the power of Facebook to recognise faces. Anyone who uses social media will understand the capabilities of these tools.
As an identifier, facial recognition offers several advantages. Passports already have a photograph for comparison purposes. Plus pictures are easier to handle than physical identifiers such as fingerprints.
Of course, facial recognition has its critics. The universal concern over data privacy arises. Recent data leaks by Cathay Pacific and BA has done nothing to assuage worries. Airlines and others will need to invest in robust data protection to complement these initiatives. Otherwise, they face hefty fines from regulators.
Moreover, in the US it’s alleged that these systems have a racial bias. The data used to train the AI came in the main from white subjects. Thus a higher error rate arises with non-white people. One study found the algorithms were five to ten percent less accurate with African-American faces. Thus triggering false alerts leading to innocent people undergoing questioning.
Women and younger people also appear to trigger false alerts on a more frequent basis. If that bias isn’t corrected, it could present a serious human rights problem. Experts opine these issues should soon disappear with refined algorithms.
China is leading the way in the application of facial recognition. There are ambitious plans for a unified national system. Several cities are already using facial recognition to name and shame jaywalkers. While on checkpoints between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the technology helps crack down on illegal traders.
In the future, it’s possible to envisage passengers moving through an airport without encountering an official. Check-in linked to facial recognition will complete immigration, security and boarding checks. That should improve passenger flows, reduce costs and save space.
Without the need for rows of immigration counters and such, the traditional blocks in passenger flow will ease. Accordingly, the passenger will experience less queuing. Let’s face it; most would welcome that.