Major League Baseball (MLB) is testing a new authentication system for fans called “Go-Ahead Entry” that utilizes facial recognition technology to streamline the stadium entry process.
MLB has partnered with the Philadelphia Phillies to begin testing this new technology that will no longer require fans to show tickets upon entry to the ballpark. Here’s how Go-Ahead Entry works, according to MLB’s description:
“MLB’s Go-Ahead Entry technology uses a camera that will recognize any opted-in fan as a registered member as they walk in – either alone or with their group – automatically scanning tickets once identified. No need to stop or even get a phone out. Fans can now enjoy the ultimate hands-free, free-flow experience entering the ballpark with their eyes up. Just skip the line and be ready to enjoy the game.”
MLB “Go-Ahead Entry”
To use this system, fans can upload a selfie through the app, which is stored for facial recognition purposes. MLB assures fans that the photos are instantly deleted and not connected to any security system.
Additionally, Go-Ahead Entry incorporates AI sensors for security checks, allowing fans to pass through without removing their phones, keys, or metal objects from their wallets, or opening their bags.
According to MLB’s senior vice president of product, Karri Zaremba, this project has been in development for over two years.
“These are the most advanced security systems on the market today,” Zaremba said.
To ease security concerns that some fans may have, Phillies Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Sean Walker explained that the facial technology being used is significantly different than similar technology that is frequently used for security purposes.
“This is not scanning a crowd looking for people,” Walker said. “This is determining if a person is authenticated. We’re not tied to any law enforcement. There’s certainly no sharing of the data. It’s simply to get you into the ballpark. It’s not facial surveillance.”
While technological advancements like Go-Ahead Entry can indeed offer convenience and efficiency for fans, the technology is eerily similar to AI-driven systems implemented in communist China as well as the so-called “digital passports” many leftists wanted to implement during the pandemic.
China has openly accepted the use of facial recognition in various public and private applications. The government uses this technology to monitor public areas like streets, parks, airports, and transportation hubs. This surveillance system, which includes roughly 200 million cameras across the country, has created a facial recognition database of nearly every Chinese citizen.
The authoritative Chinese government has implemented this technology in its country as part of its “social credit system,” a program that uses various data points to assess the behavior of its citizens.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans were concerned that similar technology would creep its way into the United States. Prominent left-wing politicians quickly made the push for Americans to have a “digital passport” that would include proof of vaccination that could be shown upon entry into businesses. Luckily, the proposal was shut down by conservative voices who rightfully argued that it was a massive violation of privacy rights.
Consumers should approach this sort of technology with a heavy amount of skepticism and caution. The idea of facial recognition software being used in public life opens the door to centralized control and a potential loss of personal autonomy. In an era where rapid technological advancement is changing our daily interactions, it is important to prioritize a balance between convenience and privacy.
