Facial recognition software goes commercial

WASHINGTON — Everyone may soon know your name the next time you go shopping.

It’s all thanks to a powerful new facial recognition system that’s now commercially available.

NEC says its mobile facial recognition appliance could help stores treat everyone like a VIP by sending personal details to salespeople about each person who walks through the door, according to Naked Security. That could include their shopping history or other purchases at sister stores.

The electronics company says the system is accurate from a distance, which is one of its marketing points to law enforcement.

The camera that sends information back to the main computer running the system is only about 5 inches across. The system can run faces through any database loaded into the software.

h/t Naked Security.

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