Singapore's world-first face scan plan sparks privacy fears

This photo taken on Oct 1, 2020 shows a staff member of government technology agency GovTech demonstrating the use of facial verification technology to access government services on a computer at a community centre in Singapore. Singapore will become the world's first country to use facial verification in its national ID scheme, but privacy advocates are alarmed by what they say is an intrusive system vulnerable to abuse. - AFP

SINGAPORE, Oct 18 (AFP): Singapore will become the world's first country to use facial verification in its national ID scheme, but privacy advocates are alarmed by what they say is an intrusive system vulnerable to abuse.

From next year, millions of people living in the city-state will be able to access government agencies, banking services and other amenities with a quick face scan.