Child protection: artificial intelligence as a safeguard 🛡️

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Over the past few months, nearly 200 tobacconists in France have adopted a revolutionary technology: a camera equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that can detect customers’ ages. This innovative tool aims to ensure that individuals looking to buy tobacco or participate in gambling are of legal age, in compliance with current legislation.

A facial recognition system to determine age📸

Discreetly installed on the counter, this small camera scans customers’ faces to accurately estimate their age. If the person is of legal age, a green light flashes, signaling the sale is allowed. However, if the algorithm deems the individual a minor, a red light appears. While promising, this technology isn’t infallible: a 21-year-old woman was mistakenly identified as a minor by the device, as reported by Franceinfo.

My Checkr Mini // Source : Bergens

Despite potential errors, tobacconists are enthusiastic about this innovation. It protects them from severe penalties, with fines up to 750 euros for selling to minors. Moreover, the technology serves as a deterrent to underage individuals, who know they can’t bypass the system.

A technology gaining ground in Europe 🌍

Commercialized in France for the past year, the camera is offered at around 700 euros, or even 500 euros, according to Stéphane Rosseneu, one of the distributors interviewed by Franceinfo. Using AI algorithms, it is trained on thousands of photos to improve accuracy. Once the age estimate is made, all biometric data is immediately deleted to ensure user privacy.

My Checkr Mini // Source : Bergens

My Checkr Mini // Source : Bergens

While this technology is gaining traction in France, it’s already well-established in the UK, where it is commonly used in supermarkets and pubs to prevent minors from purchasing alcohol. This advancement highlights how AI can transform business practices while reinforcing social responsibility and protecting young people.

Can this technology truly deter minors, or are there more effective ways to protect them? Let’s discuss! 😉