DBKL: We don’t have facial recognition tech

Keeping an eye: A security camera on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) does not have facial recognition analytics for its CCTV cameras in the capital, as that would require linking its cameras with a facial recognition software and a database with identification details.

A DBKL spokesman said: “For such a system to work, two things are needed – a CCTV system with facial recognition analytics and a database where a person’s identification is collected and stored, in this case the facial features together with personal details.

“With facial recognition, the analytics can match facial features to their personal details.”

While it is possible for DBKL to add facial recognition analytics into its CCTV system, the spokesman said it does not have an identification database that records and stores people’s facial features.

“Even if such a system exists, tracking, identifying and taking action against criminals and most traffic offenders would come under the police, not DBKL,” he said.

DBKL has an existing Integrated Transport Information System (Itis 2.0), which functions as a traffic surveillance system to manage traffic, collect traffic data as well as manage road incidents such as accidents and vehicle breakdown.

Apart from traffic surveillance cameras, DBKL also provides the police with more than 300 crime surveillance cameras for the police to monitor crime.

Police personnel help man the CCTV live feeds that are linked to all police district headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and also the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah.