Facial recognition technology is becoming increasingly common in our daily lives, but for some, it can be a bit unnerving. The Jackson’s gas station in Southeast Portland recently installed a facial recognition system at its entrance, reportedly to help deter crime and protect customers.
The camera is prominently placed above the entrance of the store, and a sign next to it notifies customers that facial recognition technology is in use. The camera works similarly to regular facial recognition software, scanning the faces of those passing through to determine if they are a potential threat. If they are identified as such, they are denied access to the store.
In addition, customers may be barred from the store if they are known shoplifters, or have committed other crimes. While Jacksons Food Stores has not responded to KGW’s inquiry on how exactly the software works, their website states that it includes an “unknown” capture ability, and doors will not open unless a face is registered as “unknown”.
Though Jacksons claims the technology is being used to protect customers, not everyone is convinced. Some customers feel it is an invasion of privacy, while others see it as a necessary evil. Regular customer Jason Phebus says, “Not sure how I feel about my face being stored in some database somewhere. But I’m not jacking anything so I don’t really care, honestly.” Regular customer Randy Tull takes the opposite view, saying, “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to hide.”
Jacksons’ Food Stores stresses that they do not share or receive any information or photos from other databases, and any captured info is stored for less than 48 hours.
Similiar technology is already being used in London grocery stores.
Those caught stealing item’s faces are put into a database and doesn’t open the door for them.
Mayor Eric Adams in New York City is encouraging businesses to do the same and it’s already being implemented.
Over the Christmas season in 2022, a woman was kicked out of Radio City Music Hall. Kelly Conlon and her daughter traveled to Radio City Music Hall to see the Christmas Spectacular show as part of a girl scout trip.
As soon as she entered the lobby security guards surrounded her and ordered her off the premises. Conlon is an attorney for a law firm that has sued Radio City several times.
“I don’t practice in New York. I’m not an attorney that works on any cases against MSG,” said Conlon.
Businesses, like the one in Oregon, are going to extremes because of the crime affecting their area due to the policies of local officials. But it wasn’t that long ago we saw how quickly down the rabbit hole this can go.
Portland pic.twitter.com/JxnySJlIrR
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) July 10, 2023
