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For the first time in the UK, Budgens supermarket tested facial recognition camera system at one of its branches in London to prevent teenagers and children from buying alcohol and cigarettes.

The identity system at Budgens supermarket will highlight features on the face.(Photo: Daily Mail)

The system consists of 3 cameras located at the entrance to the checkout counter. When walking to the cashier, customers will be photographed and photos sent immediately to the control center. The facial features will be automatically compared with the data warehouse of the teenagers who have set foot in the supermarket.

If a customer is found under 18 years of age, something that was previously unable to be proven without a personal identification, the system will send a signal to the cashier to refuse to serve the person. In case the system cannot be assessed, the cashier will ask the young customer to show evidence to prove his age when buying alcohol and cigarettes. This data will then be updated into the system. In addition, the system also recognizes those who have been assessed over the age of 18 so that the billing process takes place more quickly.

According to Charton provider, the system is capable of storing 2 million portraits of customers. Currently many supermarkets and convenience stores in London intend to connect with this system to create a huge database of customer information. However, Charton executives say the system needs to be technically perfected, and they need to re-examine the technology so that it does not go against the data protection and privacy laws. personal.

Also applying face recognition technology, a Japanese company is developing automatic cigarette vending machines that check the age of buyers by counting wrinkles and sagging facial skin. The reason for checking the age of tobacco buyers is because from July, tobacco companies in the country of cherry blossoms may be prosecuted if they sell products to underage children (20 years old). With this type of device, the situation of teenagers borrows adult ID cards to buy cigarettes will end.

The machine will compare features on the face including bone structure, elasticity of the skin, crow's feet of customers with data of more than 100,000 people. Fujitaka company said the system recognized 90% correctly, the remaining 10% fell into the case of adults but still brought the face of 'flickering milk'. If you do not pass the 'age test' , the buyer must show the identity card or driver's license to prove that he or she is old enough to smoke.