NFL Discovers Not Everyone Loves Facial Recognition

The NFL wants to improve security. That is probably a good concept.

As a result, they are shifting away from ID cards, which are easily forged or stolen to facial recognition.

But not everyone is happy.

The NFL wants all personnel, including cops providing security, to provide them with facial scans to get into sensitive areas of the stadium. Again, in concept, not a bad idea.

But the union is not happy and is digging their heels in.

Many sports venues use facial scans for fans, including baseball, tennis and golf. Fans don’t have a choice if they want to go to the game. My answer is that TV sounds better and better every day, but some people yearn for a $12 hot dog and $15 beer, so whatever.

On top of wanting the scan, the NFL wants police to sign a waiver that says, among other things:

• Officer’s facial scans can be shared with third parties (the NFL doesn’t run the scans themselves)
• The team reserves the rights to the data for three years
• The NFL is not liable in case of breaches.

While that last one is very smart from the NFL’s perspective, why the hell would I sign that if I didn’t have to. That is slightly one sided.

The NFL is in a bind because no cops means very limited security at a stadium with 50,000 to 75,000 people. Sure, they can hire rent-a-cops, but that is not the same thing as the real deal. Not even close.

The NFL is still negotiating but right now, not happening.

The company the NFL is using is called Wicket and while it has only been around for 3 years, it already has 60 clients including the NY Mets, the Tennessee Titans and others. Of course, it is not clear how those clients are using the tech.

Wicket’s CEO, Boehm referred questions about law enforcement’s resistance to the technology to the NFL, but said “venues find [credentialing with facial scans] to be a much more secure and convenient way to ensure they have full accountability for who enters restricted areas, avoiding well-documented and publicized cases of individuals sharing, stealing, or forging credentials to gain unauthorized access.”

Key point, since they are using facial recognition incorrectly, what happens if there is a breach? No one is liable. That is a hell of a deal if you can get it. How much would the mafia pay for a database of all of the cops who moonlight for the NFL, including facial scans? I bet, a bunch.

Credit: The Record

by