Some truckers making the crossing between the U.S. and Canada will soon have their faces scanned by facial recognition software. An artificial intelligence program will then attempt to determine if the driver can be sped through the border crossing process. And all this without the driver leaving the cab.
For years now, the crossing over the Peace Bridge near Buffalo has had lots of traffic and long delays. According to customs officials on the Canadian side, trucks are the primary cause of traffic backups. So, a new pilot program has been put in place to try and speed things along.
Truckers crossing the border there are already subjected to the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Program. Under the program, truckers’ fingerprints and photos are recorded. Their license plates are scanned and recorded. Their trucks are given x-ray inspections and scanned for radioactive materials. With facial recognition added in, authorities expect traffic on the bridge to reduce by half.
According to Aaron Bowker, a Customs supervisory officer based in Buffalo, the AI program will be able to know “within a millisecond” if the driver is up-to-date on his paperwork and border fees just by scanning his or her face.
The program is still in its pilot phase, but officials hope that there will be a full rollout of the technology by mid-2019. In the meantime, a similar technology is being tested at the Ambassador Bridge border crossing near Detroit.
Source: biometricupdate, buffalonews, higgins
Max says
Oh sure! Now that I’m retired and don’t have to cross there anymore, they come up with a solution. Oh well!
Standard Man says
This is not a “solution”. This is another massive government intrusion into our privacy. Those so willing to give up freedom, which anonymity is a basic tenet, in the name of security shall have neither freedom nor security.
Are you aware that when you walk into a Walmart that the AI security system identifies you…even if it doesn’t have a name, which it does if you used a credit or debit card, and along side your name is a security risk assessment. No matter what store anywhere in the World there is a Walmart this system knows you and EVERYTHING you have ever purchased and it knows if you are going to steal. It fails however to identify the true thieves who use public funds to enrich themselves and their families at our expense while relying on taxpayer funded programs. I wear a hat, hood and large fashion sunglasses inside walmart’s. The system cannot identify me..most of the time. My cousin is a loss prevention supervisor at an Arizona Walmart. That’s just Walmart….freedom starts with the ability to remain anonymous.
Barb Price says
You forgot the to mention the tin foil hat.
Butch McTavish says
Knowing the Government, this will become a complete Disaster for sure.
Kevin Chevalier says
anything to get you the system
David Collins says
Next traffic cams
Christopher Gadsden says
I see a problem. beards. So I don’t believe in shaving my beard off does that mean I’m going to have to go inside every time.
Sara says
When do we get our body chip?
Robert Doll says
When we start to eat each other to survive, probably coming very soon to a theater near you
Holly Leeming says
Makes it more efficient? Who cares about privacy issues. Since when have they cared about driver delay? The Fast card only works if the company is compliant, so you still have too wait.
Getready says
Overreach!! Its getting to be like a bad sci fi flick anymore. Not just for truckers but for us as a whole. Think about it. One centralized location with every persons data in any country at the touch of a finger. Between this and the already active GPS … let your imagination take you to a reality
Jo says
Just saying… when we are born we are already in their Data Base with our Social Security Number 😬…
Michael says
More government take over of rights
Ralph H Fisk,Jr says
Anytime a government is involved it’s harassment, what’s next,body search,oh boy.
Sara says
I like the idea it means no one can take your identity nor can they sell your identity successfully . No hold ups at least for long periods of time. Perhaps sooner or later it will pertain to everything. We who are control. I’m not for that but as far as facial identity I am.