Greater checks needed to stop facial biometric data misuse

It has come to light that individuals' information, such as individuals' facial biometric data, is being illegally sold online, drawing widespread concerns about personal privacy and property security.

Reports say some lawbreakers are boldly selling individuals' facial biometric data, acquired illegally from e-commerce platforms along with some internet tools and instructions on how to "activate" the data.

On the internet, 20,000 sets of individuals' facial data are sold for just 10,000 yuan ($1,429.78), which means a person's facial data can be illegally purchased online for just 0.5 yuan.

In recent years, facial recognition technology has been widely used by people, because they consider it safer than the traditional password method and difficult to duplicate. However, experts say it is possible to use a high-definition photograph to simulate a face and cheat the facial recognition system.

Individuals' facial biometric data are crucial personal recognition information, which if illegally acquired by fraudsters, can be used for false online registrations or telecommunication frauds. That personal facial biometric data can be acquired online for a pittance has increased the public's concerns.

Safeguarding facial biometric data requires efforts from various sides. The public should be cautious about any abuse of their facial data. But greater responsibility lies with the system's developers, lawmakers and supervisors.

Those developing facial recognition systems should improve the technology and plug the loopholes. The supervisors should strengthen the fight against facial biometric data theft by improving the firewall of information security and cut off underground channels of illegally collecting and selling people's facial biometric data, especially on e-commerce platforms. Lawmakers should improve legal protection for face information security to safeguard people's legal rights and interests. And violators who reveal, sell, purchase and/or illegally use others' facial biometric data should be severely punished to curb such crimes.