HOUSTON — Facial recognition software is nothing new, but in recent years the travel industry has embraced the innovative and invasive technology.
It is now being used everywhere from airports to cruise ships to amusement parks according to the New York Times.
At some airports, cameras at the gate match your face to your passport photo already on file with the airline, meaning some international travelers do not have to present a ticket to board. Your face can also speed up the customs process with members of the global entry program allowed to upload a selfie to an app at certain airports to bypass the lines.
When it comes to cruise ships, facial recognition software is already in use to keep track of passengers. According to the Times, Carnival photographs passengers each time they get on or off the boat so they know where people are in an emergency. The technology also delivers photographs taken by the onboard photographers directly to passengers, so you don’t have to scan hundreds of photos looking for your own face.
At amusement parks, facial recognition technology is traveling a rougher road. Some parks in the United Arab Emirates are allowing visitors to upload a selfie, linking their face to their park tickets and even credit cards, meaning they can enter the park and even buy trinkets just by looking into a camera. Disney World tested similar technology in 2021 and decided against using it.
Of course, all of this has some privacy experts concerned, but the technology shows no signs of slowing down.