Masks no obstacle for Japan's NEC facial recognition system

NEC says verification takes less than one second and claims an accuracy rate of more than 99.9%. - Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's NEC Corp has launched a facial recognition system that identifies people even when they are wearing masks, adapting to a new normal where face coverings have become a key form of protection against the spread of the coronavirus.

The technology firm had already been working on a system to meet the needs of allergy sufferers who wear masks -- a common practice in Japan -- when the Covid-19 pandemic prompted it to accelerate development.