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Facial recognition security tech used at the Brits

The Brit Awards this year deployed new security measures, using facial recognition technology to screen guests at the O2

By Anna Grace on 12 Mar 2019

The Brits, facial recognition technology

Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris at the Brit Awards 2019


image © The Brits

This year’s Brit Awards used facial recognition technology to enhance its event security, deploying the technology to screen guests at multiple entrances to the O2 in London.

Surveillance and security technology provider, Digital Barriers, partnered with Super-Recognisers International (SRI), a company that trains staff to identify faces in crowds, to provide the facial recognition security at the Brits.

The Digital Barriers facial recognition system linked to mobile apps, which enabled specialised SRI staff members to make secondary face-to-face identity verification checks.

The same technology was previously used at the O2 for the National Television Awards in January.

“The O2 is the world’s most popular music and entertainment venue and we’re continually reviewing our security measures,” says Paul Williams, senior security manager at the O2.

“The use of facial recognition is proving to be a valuable enhancement to the security and safety of the venue, its guests and staff”

“The use of facial recognition is proving to be a valuable enhancement to the security and safety of the venue, its guests and staff,” adds Williams.

Digital Barriers and SRI have now agreed to partner at any event that requires the combination of facial recognition with specialist operators. “This is a unique offering anywhere in the world,” says SRI co-founder and chief operating officer, Kenny Long, who has now joined the Digital Barriers team.

Digital Barriers chief executive Zak Doffman says that the successful O2 deployments and addition of Long to the team “attest to the world-class quality of our technology.”

“We work with government agencies around the world, and our technology is field-proven in the hardest operating environments,” adds Doffman.

The use of facial recognition technology in growing in live entertainment, with artists such as Taylor Swift using biometric technology to screen concert crowds for known criminals and other undesirables.

 


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