Irish Regulators Investigate Use Of Ryanair's Facial Recognition Technology

JAKARTA Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) has started a cross-EU investigation into the use of facial recognition technology by Ryanair. The investigation aims to determine whether the airline's practices in verifying customer identities ordering via third-party websites violate EU privacy laws.

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline by passenger count, is facing a number of complaints from customers across the European Union. These complaints relate to additional verification requests when customers book tickets via online travel agent (OTA) sites that are not affiliated with Ryanair, compared to direct bookings on airline official websites.

Ryanair claims that this additional verification process is needed to protect customers from inaccurate contact and payment information that OTA may provide unofficial. On its official website, Ryanair stated that this verification was carried out to meet security requirements.

Passengers can choose not to use facial recognition by arriving at the airport at least two hours before departure or sending their passport or national identity card form first, which Ryanair says could take up to seven days.

This verification process is not necessary if passengers order via the Ryanair website, mobile app, or OTA which has signed a commercial agreement with Ryanair. Since the beginning of this year, Ryanair has signed 14 such agreements.

Ryanair stated that the biometric and non-biometric processes it implements have fully complied with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).