Sydney Airport will take the lead in piloting face recognition technology in May this year. (Sydney Morning Herald Photo)
Sydney Airport (Sydney Airport) will take the lead in piloting face recognition technology in May, making it a step closer to simplifying the identification process for passengers travelling through Sydney Airport, the Daily Mail reported.
It is reported that Sydney Airport International Terminal will be run in May this year high-tech face recognition software. Through the technology, passengers involved in the pilot project need to show their passports only once from boarding passes to boarding.
(Geoff Culbert), chief executive of Sydney Airport, said that by introducing the biometric technology, passengers` faces would be equivalent to their passports and would also be evidence that they would be able to board. He also said that there are no other parts of the world to implement the technology. It is reported that the pilot project will first be open to Qantas (Qantas) passengers, is expected to save passengers travel time of 4 minutes 23 seconds.
Passengers will be able to check-in at home using facial recognition software on their mobile phones. Upon arrival at the airport, scanners on the airport`s electronic doors will carry out facial recognition of passengers at baggage check-ins, border checks, security checks, waiting halls and boarding gates. Passengers will only need to show their passports once for inspection. If the pilot program succeeds, it will be extended to other airlines.
Cabot says the program will make it easier for passengers to travel.
But Gail (Uri Gal), an associate professor and data privacy expert at (Sydney University) at the University of Sydney, said the project could raise concerns about privacy. He questioned how the airport would protect people`s privacy data.
Passenger facial recognition data, like other types of data, are personal and are intrinsically sensitive to collecting such data, Gale said.
Sydney airport, for its part, said it would take steps to address privacy issues.
Passengers who want to take part in the pilot project at Sydney Airport are reported to have boarded the Australian Border Guard (Australian Border Force) in May, although it is not clear what information passengers need to provide.
The project is understood to be part of a four-year renovation project at Sydney Airport. The A $1.5 billion renovation project includes the expansion of the airport terminal gate and the renovation of the runway.
