Tainan to pilot AI-driven face ID system at ATMs

Tainan, April 16 (CNA) Tainan will launch a pilot program starting in May that uses AI-driven face identification technology at automatic teller machines (ATMs) where money mules withdraw money to bolster ATM fraud prevention, Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) said Tuesday.

Money mules hired by fraud gangs often use masks and motorcycle helmets to disguise themselves while making withdrawals or carrying out ATM transactions, Huang said.

But individuals are currently not required by law to show their full faces while making withdrawals, said Meng Chih-cheng (蒙志成), head of Tainan's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, creating a loophole that fraud rings have exploited.

To get around that, the pilot face recognition system to be installed at select ATM machine locations will first "remind" people using a voice recording to take off their masks and helmets as it tries to identify the user, Huang said.

If after 10-15 seconds the system still cannot identify the user, an alarm will sound that may draw the attention of people nearby or bank staff and deter money mules from engaging in transactions, Huang said.

The system will still not prevent people from going through with transactions even if a face cannot be identified, Huang said, but he hoped it would have a deterrent effect.