Facial recognition becoming commonplace at China’s airports
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Facial recognition becoming commonplace at China’s airports

FACIAL recognition technology is gaining momentum in an increasing number of airports in China, who are using it to speed up security checks for the convenience of travelers.

According to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, 557 security channels at 62 airports are using facial recognition, including Shanghai Pudong International Aiport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

Through the facial recognition systems, passengers are able to avoid often tiresome check-in formalities and go straight to the security channels. Here, cameras will capture images of their face and scan their passports or ID cards to verify their identity.

SEE ALSO: Chinese police now using sunglasses with facial recognition

The system leveraged by the Chinese airports has been developed by the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Of the Chinese airports where yearly passenger numbers exceed 30 million, 80 percent are already using the technology.

According to reports, it takes less than one second to match a passenger’s face to their photo ID, while also checking the validity of their credentials.

Though many airports around the globe are exploring the use of facial recognition technology, including those in the US, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia, China seems to be surging ahead in the adoption of the technology in the public sector.


A customer stands in front of a counter of Hainan Airlines at an airport in Haikou, Hainan province, China, July 29, 2014. Source: Reuters

For instance, in multiple Chinese cities, facial recognition is being used by traffic management authorities to catch and publicly shame jaywalkers. In China’s Wuhan railway station, 32 facial recognition devices have been installed to speed up the process of checking tickets. And at Beijing Normal University, they have installed a facial recognition security system in the campus dorms, identifying students before allowing them access.

Local company SenseTime is supplying its facial recognition technology to several local governments in China. This is mainly to enhance domestic security as part of the country’s “Sharp Eyes” program, a plan to integrate existing security cameras throughout China into one nationwide surveillance and data-sharing program.

SEE ALSO: China testing facial-recognition systems to track Uighur community

The widespread adoption of facial recognition technology in China seems to be driven by the country’s 2017 State Council Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy. The plan lays out the aim to grow the county’s core AI industries to over CNY one trillion (US$150 billion), a 100 times increase over the 2016 number.

Innovative technology applications are developed and adopted in China at a pace faster than any other country.

If we take a look at the cashless payments revolution, for example, the willingness of the country to embrace chance has very nearly eliminated the use of physical currency in urban China within less than five years.

This article originally appeared on our sister website Tech Wire Asia.