Osaka Station to participate in two-year facial recognition system test

According to fresh reports out of Japan, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology is planning to test a facial recognition system at the Osaka train station.

Reported first in the Japan Daily Press, data from the study will be used to help improve evacuation plans in the case of an emergency.

Nearly 100 cameras will be placed in the station for the two-year test.  Under the terms of the test, when the system recognizes a person’s face, it will record time and location of the person’s movements within the station for a week. The company providing the facial recognition software has yet not been disclosed.

There have been concerns for privacy, particularly considering people won’t have a choice as to whether or not to be included.

According to new research, the global facial recognition market has been projected to grow at a CAGR of 24.5 between 2012 and 2016. As it stands, government departments are the major adopters and users of facial recognition.

 

 

Article Topics

facial recognition  |  Japan  |  surveillance