The NFL has revealed that it will be rolling out mandatory facial recognition software across all 32 teams.
This decision follows a successful trial at select venues last year, including Cleveland Browns Stadium, and will be fully implemented during this summer’s preseason games.
The new system will debut at the Patriots and Giants home games on August 8.
According to Jeff Boehm, chief operating officer of Wicket, the company responsible for the facial recognition technology, this system aims to restrict access to designated areas such as the playing field, press box, and locker rooms to authorized media, officials, staff, and guests.
“Big news for Wicket as the NFL expands the use of our technology league-wide this season!” Boehm announced on LinkedIn.
“Credential holders simply take a selfie before they come, and then Wicket verifies their identity as they walk through security checkpoints.”
Billy Langenstein, the senior director of security services for the NFL, stressed the importance of “accountability and standardization of credentialing policies and technologies” in his remarks to the Sports Business Journal.
While the NFL presents this effort as a crucial move towards improved security, there are concerns about whether it signifies a troubling transition towards a surveillance culture in America.
The Record reported:
Wicket technology was deployed in a handful of NFL stadiums last year as part of a pilot program. Other stadiums will start rolling it out beginning on Aug. 8, when the pre-season kicks off.
Some teams also have extended their use of the technology to scan the faces of ticket holders. The Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and New York Mets all have used the company’s facial authentication software to authenticate fans with tickets, according to Stadium Tech Report.
“Fans come look at the tablet and, instantly, the tablet recognizes the fan,” Brandon Covert, the vice president of information technology for the Cleveland Browns, said in a testimonial appearing on Wicket’s website. “It’s almost a half-second stop. It’s not even a stop — more of a pause.”
“It has greatly reduced the amount of time and friction that comes with entering the stadium,” Covert added. “It’s so much faster.”
The Browns also use Wicket to verify the ages of fans purchasing alcohol at concession stands, according to Wicket’s LinkedIn page.
A recent video posted on the Dallas Cowboys website demonstrated how individuals could be easily identified in crowded stadiums.
However, it is not known whether Wicket’s system will employ similar technology.
This year all 32 NFL teams will start using facial recognition to verify the identity of people entering the stadium.
This is a clip that was posted recently on the Dallas Cowboys website. It shows how easy it is to identify someone in these large crowds. pic.twitter.com/FRn8lihAEy
— Vision4theBlind (@Vision4theBlind) August 2, 2024
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3 Comments
Surprise, surprise. If people would behave themselves, crap like this wouldn’t be necessary.
1 Timothy 1:
8. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10. For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Amen sista.. if I ever live in such a day to know the world needs a Savior “Jesus Christ” these are the days! Pray for redemption!
What???!!! The woke and leftist NFL is not in favor of open borders?