To stay in a hotel in Shanghai, China, one had to undergo a facial recognition process at check-in. However, it appears that check-ins may soon be possible without facial recognition.
According to China Travel News, the Shanghai public security authorities issued a hotel industry circular prohibiting forced facial recognition for guests.
The Shanghai public security authorities stated, “From now on, guests who have presented a valid ID at check-in should not be asked to register facial information” and “Even guests without a valid ID cannot register facial information without their consent.”
They continued, “If a guest does not have a valid ID and does not want facial recognition, they should be guided to the nearby police station to get a temporary ID.”
Opposing opinions exist about the Shanghai public security authorities’ guidelines. Some argue, “Not using technology when it is available is mindless,” and “Why ban facial recognition when the security system and data are connected, and there is almost no security risk?”
Since the mid-2010s, China has collected and used citizens’ facial information data to eradicate crime. As a result, it has become customary in Chinese airports, banks, and hotels to register facial information for identity verification.
The guidelines of the Shanghai public security authorities seem to be a measure in response to the growing concerns and complaints about the misuse of facial recognition technology in China. How this measure will impact China’s facial information data collection policy remains unclear.
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