Users avoiding Macau’s new facial recognition ATMs
Just days after Macau introduced new facial recognition software to its ATMS, many of the cities popular cash points have been deserted, suggesting users are avoiding the machines fitted with the new technology.
So far, the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) technology has been introduced to 834 of Macau’s 1,300 ATMs. Along with entering their usual pin numbers, holders of any China UnionPay bank card are now required to scan their identity cards and stare into a built-in camera for six seconds while the machine confirms their identity.
The identification verification only applies to Chinese nationals, and will not impact card holders with accounts issued in Macau or other regions.
A Macau casino employee who works near an ATM known for its long queues told a source, “I used to see lots of people lining up at the ATMs before but they have vanished since the new machines were installed. Everyone must have gone looking for those without the cameras.”
The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) issued a statement on Monday saying that all Macau ATMs without the KYC technology installed will be suspended from July 4th for anyone holding a UnionPay card issued from mainland China. The statement said relevant services will be resumed once the ATM has the KYC function installed.
“The AMCM has been requesting banks to speed up the implementation and is striving, in collaboration with each bank, to cover all ATMs in Macau including those inside casinos and in their surrounding areas by this year-end. The AMCM will follow up on the implementation closely to ensure the smooth operation of ATM cash withdrawals.”
The facial recognition technology is part of Macau’s crackdown on corruption, which aims to stop the battle against money laundering, financial crime and the funding of terrorist groups.
Casino revenue in Macau reportedly dropped sharply during the last week of June after the region had been showing positive signs of increased profits, which has led some to believe is due to the introduction of the facial recognition technology.
Grant Govertsen, an analyst at Union Gaming Securities Asia told GGRAsia he believed the KYC software is not aimed directly at casino customers.
Mr Govertsen said, “We believe they are an addition to ongoing capital flight controls from mainland China, which will have the largest impact on those who come to Macau for the purpose of withdrawing and then holding Hong Kong dollars from their renminbi-denominated mainland bank accounts.”
Earlier this year, it was reported more than HK$10 billion was being withdrawn from Macau’s ATMs each month and that special measures would need to be put in place to ensure the machines never run out of bank notes. Despite introducing a limit to all cash withdrawals per transaction, users have been bypassing these restrictions by making withdrawals using multiple bank cards, or having friends and relatives withdraw money on their behalf. The facial recognition aims to help curb this kind of behaviour.
Hong Kong could be next to implement the Know-Your-Customer technology, taking inspiration from Macau to tighten the integrity of the city’s financial institutions amid Beijing’s corruption crackdown.
In a statement released last week, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said, “In our ongoing efforts to enhance the overall security of the banking system, we would explore the feasibility, robustness, costs and benefits of different technologies including, facial recognition, amongst other forms of biometrical authentications. This also includes the technologies being employed by other jurisdictions.”
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