The Pokémon Company revealed facial recognition technology will be used at five pop-up Pokémon Card Store locations in Japan to enforce entry restrictions. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The Pokémon Company revealed facial recognition technology will be used at five pop-up Pokémon Card Store locations in Japan to enforce entry restrictions.
The company announced the pop-up stores will operate July 31-Aug. 6 at AEON Mall Natori, Chofu PARCO, AEON Mall Higashiura, AEON Mall Hiroshima Fuchu and AEON Mall Chikushino and will feature exclusive Pokémon Trading Card Game cards and Pokémon Center merchandise.
Customers of elementary school age or older will be required to undergo a facial recognition scan before entering the store. The scans will ensure each customer only enters a store once per day, with anyone attempting a reentry being turned away at the door.
“If you need to leave the store temporarily, for example to use the restroom, please be sure to inform a nearby staff member before you leave,” the company said. “Please note that if you leave the store temporarily without staff guidance or confirmation, you will not be allowed to re-enter.”
The Pokémon Company said the scans are being performed “to provide a safe and secure shopping environment for all customers, to prevent crime and to ensure compliance with appropriate entry and purchase rules.”
Scalping has been a major issue in the Pokémon TCG community, with resellers often buying up large amounts of limited-release cards and merchandise to sell for a large mark-up.
The company said the facial recognition data will be stored for an unspecified amount of time before being deleted.
