Biometric recognition technology is evolving and so is transforming customers’ journey on every online industry’s platform. With its market valued at $27.97 billion in 2021, this technology is also making its way into sports stadiums as a reliable IDV solution. While criminals use synthetic identities to watch games, they pose serious threats to players. Furthermore, the riots within stadiums are another reason why arenas need to integrate biometric screening solutions.
Regulatory bodies are mandating the integration of advanced identity verification mechanisms, particularly biometric technology, to identify chaos-creating individuals. It further helps arenas to allow entrance for authorized fans and participants. Furthermore, digital onboarding solutions help in remote identification that prevents crowing. This blog explains the importance of biometric security in stadiums.
Role of Biometric Security Systems in Enhancing Security of Sports Arenas
As sports arenas are embarking on the rapidly reigning biometric technology, lawmakers are placing strict regulations to outline its use. AI-powered IDV solutions are becoming a major target for fraudsters as they employ various strategies such as deepfake and spoofing attacks. This is raising the legal obligations of the sports industry. Therefore, to prevent expansive liabilities while keeping consumer confidence and fan participation intact, arenas need to build efficient biometric recognition compliance programs.
AI-powered biometric ID verification comes with a variety of biological and behavioral checks. These provide the ground for accurate fan identification and restrict fraudsters. With its advanced analysis such as facial, fingerprint, iris/retina, and DNA recognition there remain less room for criminals to bypass with camouflaged identities. Furthermore, behavioral checks including voice, gesture, movement, liveness detection, and others add further layers of accuracy.
Facial Verification in Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Brazil is on its way to bringing in efficient IDV solutions and eliminating compromises on fans’ and players’ security. With a huge number of sports events taking place in its stadiums, Belo Horizonte’s authorities are suggesting the use of biometric recognition technology to streamline the ticketing, entrance, and seating process.
Arena MRV, in March 2023, will open its door to general fans after deploying AI-powered facial verification controls. This will ensure touchless access to stadium gates and better allocation of individuals while recording their seat numbers. Furthermore, the use of biometric security systems and NFCs will also provide instant insights into fans’ identities in case of any unethical activity takes place.
Current and Future Use of Biometric Identity Checks
Integration of biometric screening is not a new concept for stadiums and team players as fingerprint analysis has been in use for years. Major League Baseball (MLB) has been using this technology since 2018 to verify sportsmen and participants entering the stadium with pre-booked tickets. Biometric recognition solutions provide a frictionless entry into arenas where fans won’t have to undergo lengthy physical cross-checks.
Similar to MLBs, the rest of other stadiums are also employing biometric user authentication for seamless verification of concerned individuals. Using facial recognition is yet another advancement in identification processes in arenas. This is because they provide contactless entrance as well as ticket validation. Fans can book entry passes online and upon arrival can simply scan their face to validate them along with their identities. Hence, biometric security solutions are emerging as game changers for sports arenas.
Legal Landscape of Biometric ID Verification
Lawmakers are regulating biometric recognition technology to ensure its use in sports arenas in a safe and responsible manner. For this, legal bodies are enacting privacy laws. This involves the collection of facial features and outlining that are required to be analyzed. States such as Texas, Washington, and Illinois are already implementing biometric screening regulations.
Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) mandates the most strict requirements among the rest of other states’ laws. It obliges sports stadium management to provide prior notice, obtains written consent, and disclose requirements before collecting any biometric data. It further allows recovering statutory damages between $1,000 and $5,000 by respective individuals.
States across the globe are allowing the use of biometric identity verification technology by themselves, providing facial template data with accurate definitions of what has to be extracted. Similarly, for facial recognition, data breach laws are also put into place. Similarly, under Pennsylvania’s Consumer Data Privacy Act (CDPA) which is yet a pending legislature, sports arenas will have to face more strict requirements regarding the use of biometric screening-based facial template data.
In the End
Biometric recognition technology is transforming the fan experience by eliminating the hassle and providing them with frictionless entrance. Furthermore, the use of AI-powered facial verification solutions enables contactless identification. However, stadiums are also experiencing strict regulatory checks and non-compliance failure can lead them to legal proceedings. Hence, biometric security solutions are more a necessity than a requirement for sports arenas.
