News

London Stadium to deploy facial recognition

|

Facial recognition software claimed to be as accurate as the human brain will be deployed at a London stadium for the first time so that fans can go ticketless. Although the Stadium hasn’t been named industry insiders say the London Stadium already has the CCTV cameras and software capable of facial recognition.

A system from AnyVision, a company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, uses artificial intelligence to scan the whole face. Eylon Etshtein, the founder, has revealed that the technology “will be available at a London stadium this summer, but we can’t say where just yet”.

 Speaking at the Ifsec International Security Show at the ExCel in Newham close to the former Olympic Stadium, Mr Etshtein dismissed concerns from campaigners about his technology being invasive, saying people were increasingly open to trading their privacy for convenience. In this case the scanners could help sports or music fans get to their seats quicker, he said.

Cameras can get a reading up to three metres away in 0.3 seconds, Mr Etshtein claimed, adding that the chance of a false-positive was “once in a million”. The software also comes with a “privacy mode” for operators to pixelate faces and bodies. “People want seamless access to a stadium and for everything to be super-simple,” he said. “They want to enter without stopping, without waiting to scan a barcode or for the card reader to work.” He added: “Using your face means no one can fake it.”

In April the London Stadium Safety Advisory Group (SAG) admitted that London Stadium 185 are looking at longer term solutions and have spoken to a number of companies regarding CCTV provision, including companies that provide CCTV with facial recognition.

A copy of the minutes can be found at https://www.newham.gov.uk/Documents/Business/SSAGMinutes4April2018.pdf

Whether West Ham will form part of a future trial is unknown but plastic season ticket access cards could soon a thing of the past as technology improves.

Share this article

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball,

I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh.

Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons!

Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter

9 comments

  • Hammerforlife says:

    All so STH’s can’t lend their ticket to a mate without paying the club for the privilege. More money grabbing by the evil three.

  • Legin says:

    They can stick that where the sun don’t shine. I will not knowingly allow my facial data (for that is what it is) to be used for these purposes.

  • iateublakey says:

    makes perfect sense as its the most up to date stadium with all the hardware installed for the olympics, i doubt it would be used for fans going ticketless but i would welcome it for security, reasons and as we are seen up to 300 times a day in London its not a problem.

  • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

    Finally got an ST today not sure like others whether I want facial recognition sounds like big brother imho

    • Mary Millingtons Ghost says:

      Congrats 32.
      Were you on the ‘waiting list’ long?

      • West Ham Fan No 32 says:

        Hi mate thanks yeah was on it from the start I thought I would have got the chance last season as I had applied early doors, obviously not early enough though, tried everything to find out where I was on the list but they wouldn’t tell me, are you on it Mmg?

        • Mary Millingtons Ghost says:

          No mate. I’ve been abroad on and off for large chunks of the past few years and a ST hasn’t really been viable. Possibly when I return permanently?!?

Comments are closed.