Yoti to provide facial recognition for age verification in UK supermarkets

Retail self checkout machine maker NCR has announced the integration of facial recognition technology from Yoti with its “FastLane” tills, and the Telegraph reports that the integration will be piloted for age verification of people buying alcohol and cigarettes at UK supermarkets by the end of the year.

Shoppers do not need to register their identity in advance, and the system does not retain user images after the purchase is made, according to the Telegraph. The process can also be performed more quickly for registered customers through the Yoti app.

“Waiting for age approval at self-checkouts is a source of frustration for many shoppers, who just want to get home as quickly as possible,” says Yoti CEO Robin Tombs. “Our integration with NCR delivers a frictionless and innovative way for customers to prove their age in seconds. It’s a simple process that helps retailers meet the requirements of regulators worldwide.”

NCR provides point-of-sale systems to Asda, Tesco, and other supermarkets in the UK, and Yoti recently told the Telegraph that two of the big four supermarkets, which also include Sainsbury’s and Morrisons, are planning to pilot the technology this year. A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said it would not be trialling the technology, but Tesco has previously deployed facial recognition at gas stations to target advertisements based on age.

NCR also plans to deploy the camera-equipped checkout systems for retailers in the U.S.

The Yoti app was recently chosen by the Scottish government to provide digital identity for proof of age and other purposes with privacy protections.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  digital identity  |  facial recognition  |  identity verification  |  mobile app  |  Yoti