New facial recognition technology forces customers to wear masks before entering stores

A new piece of technology is being used in Thailand that attempts to enforce coronavirus protocols by scanning a customer's face to see if they are wearing a mask. If they are not, they can be refused entry.

Niall Harbison posted the technology on his Twitter, showing that this kind of technology was being used in one of his local shops, adding that it "scans my temperature and to see if wearing mask. Doors don't open if not. 3 cases in 100+ days here. Removes awkward mask arguments for staff as well."

The system has been rigged to look like something one might see in airport security. The potential customer approaches the screen that has the words "Face Detector" displayed on a screen. Then the screen scans your face to authenticate that you are following the protocols.

There were some Twitter users who appeared to support the protocol, suggesting that masks be required for those entering an establishment.

Another Twitter user posted: "I wish people would stop championing and normalising this nonsense. We will never get back to 2019 Normal if we continue down this road. A global over-reaction of epic proportions - we've been utterly played by the Chinese over this one. I bet they can't believe it themselves."

Overreach by governments amid the coronavirus pandemic has been on people's radar since March, where many countries flirted with the idea of installing mandatory smartphone apps and visits by law enforcement to ensure that people were following the protocols.

China has reportedly combined its COVID-19 track and trace system with the Communist country's social credit score program—a seemingly Orwellian operation.