Until now, cameras capable of performing facial recognition based on collected biometric data were something we Westerners mostly associated with the actions of the Chinese government. For this reason, Disney’s choice to equip its amusement park turnstiles with such invasive technology raises doubts and concerns.
WHY DO DISNEY PARKS “WANT” OUR FACES?
In a lengthy statement, the company itself presents the hi-tech novelty which, for now, to avoid too much controversy, has been understood as optional. “Guests – it reads – can choose to use entrance gates equipped with facial recognition technology at the entrances of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. This technology facilitates re-entry to our parks and helps prevent fraud.”
HOW FACIAL RECOGNITION WORKS IN DISNEY PARKS
The same statement explains how the new highly technological turnstiles work: “These entrance gates use facial images taken by a camera at the entrance and the facial image saved at the first use of the ticket or pass; they employ biometric technology to convert these images into unique numerical values; they compare the numerical values to find a match and except in cases where data must be retained for legal reasons or fraud prevention, delete all numerical values within 30 days of their creation.”
THE DOUBTS
As anticipated, participation is voluntary since Disney itself takes care to warn that traditional entrance gates, i.e., those that do not use facial recognition technology, remain available and usable.
But it is obvious that the choice raises long-standing doubts about such pervasive technology, the security of the databases where the data will be stored, and the guarantees of limited and unique use that will be made of the data. Especially considering that, inevitably, theme parks are mostly visited by minors. “Minors under 18 can use this service with the consent of a parent or guardian,” the company merely specifies on the matter.
Disney also states that it has adopted technical, administrative, and physical measures to protect the information collected from unauthorized access, disclosures, misuse, or alterations. However, the company also clarifies that no security system can be considered perfect or completely impenetrable (Disney itself has recently dealt with hackers).
GOODBYE TO TICKET INSPECTORS AT THE GATES?
Alongside these doubts related to the privacy of users visiting amusement parks, one also wonders whether this move anticipates the disappearance of the human inspector who has so far been responsible for ticket validation.
Recently, to recover from the post-pandemic crisis, Disney has laid off many employees, and even more recently, with the new CEO of the American entertainment giant, the situation does not seem too different: according to the Wall Street Journal, the company is preparing for a new round of cuts that could involve up to 1,000 employees.
It is reasonable, therefore, to assume that such automation is aimed at replacing flesh-and-blood guards with intangible artificial intelligence algorithms in the medium to long term.
