The Quiet Rise of Facial Recognition Around the World
Facial Recognition Takes Off Globally, Raising Privacy Concerns
“Between the moment you arrive at the airport and the moment you pass through the boarding gate, only ten minutes pass.” Vincent Bouatou details the speed with which it is possible to take a plane in Singapore, without showing a passport or boarding pass. This ease is made possible, according to the technology director of the French group Idemia Public Security, by iris biometrics and facial recognition.
“What they have done at Changi is unparalleled in the world,” he says, proud of the role of his group, an expert in the field. Especially since the city-state could offer him other opportunities. “Every day, many cross-border commuters make round trips on two-wheelers between Singapore and Malaysia,” he continues. “For motorcyclists, removing their gloves is a bit long.”
This is happening in Singapore, but also in China, the Gulf countries, the United States… Whether it’s airports, transportation, border control, criminal investigations, and much more, over the years, facial recognition has become increasingly commonplace around the world. This is evidenced by the prospects of this market, where large groups such as Panasonic, NEC, Thales, and Microsoft often compete discreetly, and which could be worth $18 billion (15.4 billion euros) in 2030, compared to $8 billion today, according to several consulting firms.
On the one hand, scanning a face can be done on the fly, in a more fluid and practical way than collecting fingerprints or encoding an iris. But, on the other hand, it is also the “most highly sensitive” biometrics, as recalled by the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), the French data protection authority. “If your credit card is stolen, the bank can give you another code. If your biometric identity is hacked, however, you will not be able to change your face,” insists Thomas Dautieu, its director of legal support.
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