NFL Elevates Security: Wicket's Facial Recognition Tech Gets an Upgrade

Published Date: 30/07/2024

The National Football League is expanding its use of facial recognition technology to regulate access to high-security zones across all 32 teams.

"Vietnam is undergoing a significant digital transformation, with the government's 'Project 06' aiming to modernize its economy and public services. At the heart of this plan is a new national identity system, which incorporates civil registration, digital ID, and authentication.

This digital ID card will integrate multiple public services, including healthcare and social insurance, making them more efficient and accessible. The system combines fingerprint and face recognition technologies to enhance security measures during identity checks for over 50 million citizen"The National Football League (NFL) is taking a major leap forward in stadium security with the help of Wicket's biometric technology. After a successful six-stadium pilot last year, the NFL will be rolling out Wicket's facial recognition system to all 32 teams, focusing on securing high-risk areas such as locker rooms, the press box, and the playing field.

Wicket's technology has already made a significant impact in the NFL, with its first major deployment in 2020 through a partnership with the Cleveland Browns. The 'Express Access' system enabled fans to link their game passes to their face biometrics, resulting in expedited access to the stadium through dedicated screening lanes. The data from the 2022 football season showed that this system enabled fans to clear queues 10 minutes faster and reduced the number of ticket scanning lanes needed, resulting in cost savings of $8,000 per Wicket ticketing lane.

However, the expansion of Wicket tech across the NFL will focus on security and staff credentialing rather than ticketing. This means that thousands of staff, members of the press, and vendors who need access to high-security areas during the football season will be impacted.

According to Billy Langenstein, the NFL's Senior Director of Security Services, the organization needs to 'know every single person who is being credentialed to work an NFL game, who they are, and the access levels they should have to do their job.' He emphasized the importance of accountability for those individuals, saying that it's crucial to 'embrace it, learn it, and evaluate the safety and security of the program.'

While Wicket is providing the biometric technology, London-based Accredit Solutions will deliver the enterprise-level credential management software. The biometric credentialing system is set to go live in the first week of the preseason.

  Information 

Wicket is a leading provider of biometric technology, offering innovative solutions for secure access control. Their facial recognition system uses advanced algorithms to identify individuals in real-time, ensuring a high level of accuracy and security.

  Accredit Solutions is a UK-based company specializing in enterprise-level credential management software. They provide comprehensive solutions for organizations to manage their credentials and access control.

Keywords  facial recognition technology, biometric technology, NFL, Wicket, security, access control, credential management"s.

Global partnerships have played a crucial role in this transition. NEC has worked closely with Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) to ensure the robustness and expandability of the system.

The evolution of Vietnam's digital identity system is a landmark in its digital history. The country's move from outdated paper-based identification systems to sophisticated, biometric-based digital IDs will provide better access to citizen data and improved protection from cybercrime.

NEC's automated biometric identification system (ABIS) has been instrumental in upgrading Vietnam's national ID system. The system has improved identity verification for 50 million Vietnamese, with a scalable and expandable multimodal biometric system that seamlessly migrated 16 million legacy records from a previous system.

International collaborations with companies like VNPT and Thales have reinforced Vietnam's digital ID system. For instance, VNPT's electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) platform has improved identity verification processes, enhancing secure and efficient citizen services.

Vietnam has also partnered with other technological companies for special programs, such as the 'Initiating Digital Identity with National Domain Name' event, which encourages youth to use the domain '.id.vn' for digital identity and branding online.

These partnerships drive technological advancements that ensure the digital ID system remains robust, scalable, and secure. The collaborations bring in global expertise to reduce fraud risks while improving citizen data protection.

Vietnam is set to launch digital identity cards that will be added to the VNeID mobile app, enabling interactions with public sectors. These digital IDs will integrate health and social insurance cards, driving licenses, and birth certificates, increasing convenience and security.

However, privacy risks accompany this system, and the government must balance innovation with privacy concerns. As Vietnam navigates its digital transformation, it is essential to address these issues to ensure the system remains secure and trustworthy."

FAQs:

"Q: What is the main focus of Wicket's biometric technology in the NFL?

A: The main focus is on security and staff credentialing, regulating access to high-security zones across all 32 teams.

Q: How did Wicket's technology impact the 2022 football season?

A: It enabled fans to clear queues 10 minutes faster and reduced the number of ticket scanning lanes needed, resulting in cost savings of $8,000 per Wicket ticketing lane.

Q: Who is providing the enterprise-level credential management software for the NFL?

A: London-based Accredit Solutions is delivering the software.

Q: When will the biometric credentialing system go live in the NFL?

A: The system is set to go live in the first week of the preseason.

Q: What is the primary concern of the NFL's Senior Director of Security Services regarding biometric technology?

A: Accountability for individuals credentialed to work an NFL game, ensuring they have the correct access levels to do their job."

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