South Koreans Use Facial Recognition to Buy SIMs
TL;DR
South Korea's government announced a new measure requiring facial recognition for SIM card purchases to combat fraud.
South Korean Government Requires Facial Recognition for SIM Purchases
On January 10th, the South Korean government announced a new measure to combat fraud. Mobile operators must now verify the identity of new customers via facial scanning.
Context of the Measure
With the rise of fraud involving personal data, authorities are seeking effective ways to protect citizens. This measure aims to tackle the increasing use of forged documents and identity theft.
Implementation and Impacts
The implementation of facial recognition usage is expected to occur starting in the second half of 2023. Operators, including SK Telecom, will have up to three months to adapt their systems. This requirement aims to generate greater security for transactions conducted via smartphones.
Associated Costs
Recently, SK Telecom recorded a significant loss of approximately $1.5 billion due to information security issues. This new requirement may represent an additional burden on system adaptations, both financially and in terms of technical challenges.
Future Perspectives
With the increasing digitalization of financial operations, security becomes paramount. The use of facial recognition could represent an advancement but also raises concerns about personal data privacy. Industry observers speculate that other nations may follow this trend by implementing similar regulations.
Content selected and edited with AI assistance. Original sources referenced above.
