Chinese police car scans faces to look for suspects

Police cars use 360-degree cameras with facial recognition technology to identify criminals.

We have already seen facial recognition technology being used in Japan, where 3D mug shots help police better identify criminals. Now, a new police SUV in China is being fitted with 360-degree cameras that will use facial recognition to search for criminals.

Developed at the University of Electronic Science and Technology, the camera will help keep track of criminals by scanning faces within a 60-meter radius of the car. It then compares the gender, age and race of the faces and analyzes it against police databases.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the car will be able to perform the analysis at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, and will automatically ID criminals and alert the driver. In a country of more than 1.3 billion people, the device has the potential to be a major help in tracking criminals. China’s police hope the car will be ready for road tests later this year.

How else could police use facial recognition technology in the field in identification and searches?