Even Vending Machine In China Deploys Facial Recognition

In a TikTok video surfacing online, a Chinese woman can be seen using her face to unlock a vending machine. There’s no need for cards, cash, or a smartphone when you want to get yourself a cold drink.

Matthew Brennan, a speaker in China, was the first to spot the video. The video shows that by simply standing in front of the vending machine and showing her face before the machine’s camera, the woman would gain access to it.

There’s no information in terms of the payment as the details weren’t shown in the video. It is likely to be a credit service that users will need to clear out before a month ends.

Note that the machine only works if the person has an ID from mainland China. Brennan also tweeted another video that features a non-Chinese man. However, the man was denied access by the vending machine as he didn’t own a Chinese ID. An error message pops up, which read, “Error message Z6100: This account’s real-name verification is linked to a non-mainland China ID.”

While this might sound innovative and futuristic, it also comes with a compromise, which is users’ privacy. Since it is mandatory to have a Chinese ID to use the service, users could potentially expose their food habits to the government.

The citizens of the country are either willing or being forced to use all these innovative solutions to have a more convenient daily life. What about you? Are you willing to risk your privacy, just to get a cold drink from a vending machine without all the hassle of a smartphone, cards or cash?