Facial recognition being used at conferences and events (Updated)

According to the above video, conferences and events across the globe have begun using facial recognition cameras to spy on everyone. You know, because people hate waiting in check-in lines.

Zenus a startup company based in Texas, claims their facial recognition software can speed up check-ins at conferences and events.

"Attendees have registered for a conference ahead of time, providing pertinent personal information and uploading a photo. On-site at the conference, that person steps up to a device—usually a tablet—where a camera scans the person’s face, using the image to call up her information and completing the check-in process digitally. "

image credit: zenus

According to an article in Xconomy, hotels and real estate conferences plan to use facial recognition to spy on everyone.

Zenus CEO Panos Moutafis, claims people love their product and claims that they don't identify everyone.

“People loved the system,” Moutafis says. “The organizer told us that it was five times faster than typical scanning methods.” 

"There is no personal information transferred from the platform, just the ‘face geometry’ that distinguishes individuals Moutafis said.”

But is he telling the truth?

Updated 9/6:

Zenus claims they only identify people who opt-in
I received an email from Mr. Moutafis that claims, "the attendees can choose whether or not they would like to upload their photo during registration and decide whether or not to use the face recognition service."

Zenus also claims they delete all facial biomteric information at the end of an event.

"The images are deleted immediately upon extracting the face geometries and all meta data (including the face geometries) are also deleted right after the event."

Facial recognition cameras can identify everyone
Zenus's 'Enhancing Events' page admits, that facial recognition cameras are being used to identify everyone, not just people who opted-in.

"We would like to help you impress your guests no matter who they are. Our facial recognition solution can only be found in the movies and will surely blow their mind! It only takes a couple of seconds to recognize each attendee and you will be notified the moment your VIP arrives."

If you believe facial recognition cameras are being used only to identify VIPs, then I've got some moon real estate I would love to sell you.

Zenu's 'pricing page' explains, that they have more information about identifying everyone but they will have to charge you more money. (I've sent an email to Zenus asking about their pricing range and will update my story if I get a response.)

Facial recognition cameras are being used in hotels, retail stores, movie theaters and vacation destinations like the U.S. Virgin Islands. Pretty soon, there will be no place to hide from Big Brother.

Click here to see a biometric self-service reception desk. (I think it's made by a company called 1KIK.)