# How AI looks set to power facial recognition passport adoption across Southeast Asia post-COVID Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-07-15 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: Facial Recognition Technology Advancements in Southeast Asia Meta Description: Discover how airports in Southeast Asia are integrating facial recognition technology to streamline operations, enhance security, and improve passenger URL: https://financedigest.com/how-ai-looks-set-to-power-facial-recognition-passport-adoption-across-southeast-asia-post-covidhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/sbi-301990198-jpg-1736838178802-compressed.jpg) _By **Abhijit Shanbhag,** founder and CEO of_ [_Graymatics_](https://graymatics.com/) Driven by rapid technological change, there have been significant advances in AI and facial recognition systems. With the exponential increase of embedded smart cameras and computing power, facial recognition is becoming a powerful, ubiquitous tool for streamlining operations. Facial recognition technology has evolved rapidly due to the pandemic as the inherent contactless nature of facial recognition makes it a highly desirable alternative to fingerprint scanners and even RFID cards used for access and attendance monitoring. More and more airports within Southeast Asia are beginning to trial AI-powered video [technology to improve airport experience](https://www.financedigest.com/how-is-modern-technology-shaping-our-in-store-experience.html "How Is Modern Technology Shaping Our In Store Experience?"), increase airport efficiency and reduce terminal congestion. Having to rely on biometric identification like facial recognition for [identity verification poses one less problem for the aviation industry](https://www.financedigest.com/the-push-and-pull-of-identity-security-adoption-in-the-financial-services-industry.html "The push and pull of identity security adoption in the financial services industry"). One of the major airports in Malaysia, The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), is commencing the usage of [facial recognition](https://www.financedigest.com/2022-the-year-that-facial-recognition-will-lead-the-fintech-industry.html "2022 – The year that facial recognition will lead the fintech industry") as a single token identification authentication. It can take less than a second to match a person’s face to the ID whilst also verifying necessary credentials. With the trials having been set in place even before the pandemic kicked in, the airport authorities ensure that this step-up would [allow the passengers to go through the entire](https://www.financedigest.com/new-tool-allows-you-to-explore-the-entire-british-coastline-from-your-sofa.html "New tool allows you to explore the entire British coastline from your sofa") airport procedure without having to show any documents at all right from check-in to the boarding gates. Through facial recognition technology, passengers are able to [cut passport queue times](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-purplebricks-to-cut-more-than-10-of-jobs-the-times.html "Britain’s Purplebricks to cut more than 10% of jobs – The Times") and avoid inefficient check-in formalities. Singapore’s Changi Airport has already been leveraging the power of facial and iris recognition and is actively planning to automate immigration clearance gates, which are [expected to be fully unmanned in the near future](https://www.financedigest.com/the-immunooncology-market-is-expected-to-grow-on-a-persistent-note-in-the-future.html "The Immunooncology Market is expected to grow on a persistent note in the future"). Changi Airport is also planning to operate self check-ins, baggage drop [machines and lifts without touching](https://www.financedigest.com/the-rise-of-the-machines-vs-the-human-touch.html "The rise of the machines vs the human touch") the buttons. Such touch-free travel with minimal contact with [staff and surface can ensure highest standards of safety and hygiene amid the Covid-19](https://www.financedigest.com/qantas-idles-2500-more-staff-as-covid-19-cuts-domestic-flights.html "Qantas idles 2,500 more staff as COVID-19 cuts domestic flights") pandemic.  [Biometric technology](https://www.financedigest.com/the-rise-of-biometric-technology-in-banking.html "Biometric technology") can also be applied to other tasks such as entry to airport lounges or duty-free shopping. Moreover, advanced facial recognition [technology has the ability to identify consumer trends](https://www.financedigest.com/from-the-experts-5-payment-technology-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2016.html "FROM THE EXPERTS: 5 PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2016") and allow for greater personalisation of passenger services. This might be particularly useful for passengers requiring additional assistance. Despite widespread concerns around biometric data privacy, research by IATA has shown that 64 percent of passengers would be willing to [share their personal information](https://www.financedigest.com/privacy-vs-security-is-the-cybersecurity-information-sharing-act-beneficial.html "PRIVACY VS SECURITY: IS THE CYBERSECURITY INFORMATION SHARING ACT BENEFICIAL?") in exchange for a better travel experience. Biometrics could also [become the key](https://www.financedigest.com/red-box-recorders-becomes-key-partner-in-battle-against-insurance-fraud.html "RED BOX RECORDERS BECOMES KEY PARTNER IN BATTLE AGAINST INSURANCE FRAUD") to vaccination passports. As countries prepare to set foot into a post-Covid19 world, [digital vaccine passports will inevitably become a part](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-id-and-verification-and-why-is-it-such-an-integral-part-of-digital-life.html "What Is ID and Verification and Why is it Such an Integral Part of Digital Life?") of our daily lives. With any kind of document, there are numerous procedures [needed for it to be operated across](https://www.financedigest.com/tech-awakening-needed-across-uk-workforce.html "Tech awakening needed across UK workforce") borders and jurisdictions. The easiest and quickest way to [tackle this issue is through biometrics](https://www.financedigest.com/how-biometric-payments-are-tackling-financial-exclusion.html "How Biometric Payments Are Tackling Financial Exclusion"), which not only adds convenience but can provide extensive security. There are a number of concerns that the paper [vaccine card may not be sufficient enough](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-vaccine-panel-says-one-covid-shot-enough-for-children.html "Germany’s vaccine panel says one COVID shot enough for children") to cross the borders post Covid-19 due to the replicability issues. Turning technology as a vehicle for vaccine passports would provide numerous [benefits – most importantly security](https://www.financedigest.com/why-you-might-want-to-wait-until-age-70-to-claim-social-security-benefits.html "Why You Might Want to Wait Until Age 70 to Claim Social Security Benefits"). Facial recognition as a security method can ensure [personal and health information is kept safe](https://www.financedigest.com/five-ways-to-keep-your-personal-data-safe-from-hackers.html "Five ways to keep your personal data safe from hackers"). Compared to the traditional security systems, facial recognition systems scan faces, iris or  other physical features instead of [passwords or security](https://www.financedigest.com/ai-is-the-new-password-security-and-ease-for-finance-users.html "AI is the new password: security and ease for finance users ") questions to access information; thus, the risk of theft and hacking are minimized. With an [increasing number of airports adopting the technology](https://www.financedigest.com/lumen-registers-increased-views-and-more-positive-response-to-ads-using-seenthis-technology.html "Lumen registers increased views and more positive response to Ads using SeenThis Technology") within Southeast Asia, the journey for Facial Analytics is an upward climb considering the ubiquity of cameras and other forms of video sensors, even with the rising complexity of technical challenges and required skills. Facial recognition [technology will not only prove](https://www.financedigest.com/the-coconut-milk-market-to-prove-its-servility-to-technological-advancements.html "The Coconut Milk Market To Prove Its Servility To Technological Advancements") a boon for the people, enterprises and society in Singapore but also in the rest of Southeast Asia. With our faces becoming our passports and with reliance on biometrics and surveillance, there is a [hope for safe and efficient international travel in a post-pandemic world](https://www.financedigest.com/world-stocks-climb-on-hopes-of-successful-debt-ceiling-outcome.html "World stocks climb on hopes of successful debt ceiling outcome"). However, only [time can tell how effective facial recognition systems will move](https://www.financedigest.com/move-over-tina-its-time-for-tara.html "Move over TINA, it’s time for TARA") forward from here. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---