Japan's Cigarette Machines Using Facial Recognition Software

While some agencies, including the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) are experimenting with facial recognition software to prevent terrorism, Japan has a more mundane use for it: preventing underage buyers from using cigarette vending machines.

The reason for the concern is a new law which takes effect in July, which requires vending machines to verify the age of buyers. So far Japan's finance ministry has approved an age-identifying smart card called "taspo" and a system that can read the age from driving licenses.

Fujitaka Co. has developed a vending machine which uses a digital camera to study the faces of potential buyers and detect "wrinkles surrounding the eyes, bone structure and skin sags."

However, it has yet to be approved due to concerns about its accuracy. Currently the accuracy is only about 90%. Those which are unable to be verified by this method would have to use either of the other methods as a backup.

It makes me wonder if the machine could accurately detect the age of a non-Japanese buyer --- and if it would be possible to fool the machine by wearing a Ronald Reagan mask.