Singapore’s Universal Studios to use facial recognition for entry; customer data will be encrypted, operator says
- Visitors will now have to pass through facial recognition scanners to enter the Universal Studios theme park in Singapore
- Operator Resorts World Sentosa says customer data will be stored on encrypted servers, but won’t say which company is providing the technology
Visitors to Universal Studios in Singapore will now have to pass through facial recognition scanners to enter the theme park, in the city state’s latest foray with a technology that has stoked privacy concerns.
Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), which owns the sprawling area of tourist attractions, hotels and restaurants in which the park sits, said the scheme, which started this month, would help smooth access for guests.
“Facial recognition provides contactless verification of tickets and ticket holders, enabling our customers to enjoy our park experience in a more efficient and seamless manner,” RWS said in an emailed statement.
Usage of facial recognition technology – which allows firms or authorities to match people picked up on cameras with those on databases – has risen globally in recent years, stirring worries about surveillance and how data collected will be used.
Digitally connected Singapore has embarked on many projects that use the technology, including an ambitious scheme to put cameras on lamp posts linked to facial recognition software.