Tainan's AI Face ID ATMs: Revolutionizing Security and Combating Fraud

Taiwan City Embraces Cutting-Edge Technology to Protect Citizens from ATM Scams

Tainan, Taiwan – In a bold move to combat rising ATM fraud, the city of Tainan is pioneering an innovative pilot program set to launch in May. The initiative leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI) driven face identification technology at automatic teller machines (ATMs), promising to significantly enhance security and protect citizens.

Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) announced the program on Tuesday, highlighting the growing sophistication of fraud gangs. These criminals often employ "money mules" who conceal their identities with masks and helmets during ATM transactions, making them difficult to apprehend.

The current legal landscape presents a challenge. Meng Chih-cheng (蒙志成), head of Tainan's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, pointed out that there's no legal mandate for individuals to fully reveal their faces while using ATMs, providing a critical loophole exploited by fraudsters.

The innovative pilot program aims to close this gap. The AI-powered face recognition system will be installed at select ATM locations. Initially, the system will prompt users via a voice recording to remove any face coverings. Simultaneously, it will attempt to identify the user's face.

If the system fails to recognize the user within a 10-15 second timeframe, an alarm will be triggered. The alarm is designed to draw attention from nearby individuals or bank staff, effectively deterring money mules from completing their fraudulent transactions.

Crucially, the system won't block transactions even if a face cannot be identified. Mayor Huang hopes the presence of the technology will create a strong deterrent effect, safeguarding citizens and their financial assets.