Getting hitched with a scan

Facial recognition technology helps couples tie the knot faster

CHONGQING: Facial recognition technology can now help with getting hitched in China.

Couples in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality can have their personal information checked within a second at a machine and get their marriage certificates much quicker than before.

The face-scanning machine at the marriage and adoption registration centre in Chongqing currently only serves marriage registration for Chongqing natives who marry foreigners, overseas Chinese or people from Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan.

Since the machine was introduced in January, 65 couples have had their marriages registered through facial scanning.

Previously, staff at the centre had to manually check the information on the ID card, passport and “hukou” booklet that records the birthplace and family members of the applicant, which took a lot more work and was prone to error.

The facial recognition technology can check the applicant’s information in 0.3 seconds and produce a report for obtaining the marriage certificate.

A fingerprint check will be required for twins and applicants who have undergone plastic surgery, staff at the centre said.

The centre in Chongqing is currently the only one providing such services. “We will expand its use to more centres in Chongqing if it works well,” said Wan Shixian at the centre.

Facial recognition technology has been increasingly applied in China.

It has been used for entrance security systems, cash withdrawal, hotel reservations and ticket purchasing, making life more convenient and comfortable for many people.