IBM facial recognition deployed in Penang
Information Certainty: Documented
Deployment Purpose: Surveillance
| Summary |
|---|
| In 2017, the City Council of Penang acquired funding to secure the island using a network of cameras, to be rolled out between 2017-2020. The cameras were equipped with facial recognition capabilities from IBM. Penang City Council managed the network but is also stated that they link to the headquarters of police departments on the island. IBM has since discontinued its facial recognition for law enforcement products. However as the system was by then owned by the Council it is likely still in use. |
Products and Institutions:
| Product Deployed | IBM Video Analytics |
|---|---|
| Institutions ⠉ | IBM |
| Datasets | |
| Search software |
Status and Events:
| Status | Ongoing |
|---|---|
| Events | Start (1 December 2017, Documented, , No description) |
| Start Date | |
| End Date |
Users:
| Involved Entities | |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Penang Island City Council |
| Used by |
Location:
| City | George Town (Malaysia) |
|---|---|
| Country ⠉ |
Description[ ]
In 2017, Penang City Council started rolling out Malaysia's first public facial recognition system. The CCTV was equipped with facial recognition from IBM. IBM has since discontinued its facial recognition products, however owned systems can likely still be used.
"The monitoring via CCTV is an initiative by the Penang state government to reduce crime, especially street crimes, to maintain the safety and well-being of the people," said Chief Minister of Penang Chow Kon Yeow in a statement to Bernama. Chow added, "We hope to increase the number of CCTVs installed with this face recognition technology to 3,000 units in stages, for better crime prevention, and to expand it to areas under the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP)." 1
IBM Video Analytics is in use to trace criminals.
The State of Penang has launched the first public facial recognition system in Malaysia to the CCTV network on Penang Island to help police track down wanted criminals and reduce crime, the Malay Mail report. The city surveillance system uses AI to identify faces captured by the CCTV network operated by Penang Island City Council (MBPP). IBM Intelligent Video Analytics (IVA) technology is used for facial recognition. It will be rolled out over a three-year period from December 2017 through 2020, with a cost of RM12 million (US$2.89 million). “Wanted persons can be traced using this system and this system is fully linked with the police operations room in Penang,” Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a speech at the MBPP Operation Centre. 2
References
- a b "This Malaysian state is using facial recognition to catch criminals". (2019) <https://sea.mashable.com/tech/1725/this-malaysian-state-is-using-facial-recognition-to-catch-criminals> Accessed: 2022-11-29
- a b "{Malaysian state launches facial recognition to CCTV network".