Is Singapore’s New Hotel Guest Authentication Just Creepy Surveillance?
Self check-in by facial recognition at hotels is unlikely to be an industrywide reality anytime soon in Singapore — and that’s not exactly bad news.
The Singapore Tourism Board announced this month the launch of an "E-Visitor Authentication" as part of new hotel "industry-wide" initiatives. This led to reports of an "automated facial recognition system" in the city that helps hotels reduce check-in time — but is it what it's cracked up to be?
The Singapore Tourism Board announced this month the launch of an "E-Visitor Authentication" as part of new hotel "industry-wide" initiatives. This led to reports of an "automated facial recognition system" in the city that helps hotels reduce check-in time — but is it what it's cracked up to be?
"Participating hotels can use facial recognition technology to authenticate their guests' identities, and the guest data will be sent to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority to verify the validity of their stay," the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Hotel Association said in a joint statement announcing the E-Visitor Authentication.
Three hotels in the city are piloting the program, namely Ascott Orchard, Swissotel The Stamford, and Grand Park City Hall.