UK Food Bank Patrons Access Free Meals with Face Scans

Facial recognition technology is revolutionizing the way food insecure individuals in the UK access food, allowing them to exchange a face scan for their preferred groceries. As food banks witness a surge in demand due to skyrocketing inflation, this app-based approach offers a welcome alternative.

Hackney Foodbank, an inner-city London charity, has been trialing the system for a year, and nearly 200 people per month now utilize the face recognition app. With FaceDonate, individuals can purchase groceries from participating shops by scanning their face on the mobile app. Established in 2020, FaceDonate serves as a web platform that enables charities to collect and distribute funds to people in need. It also allows individuals and businesses to fundraise and monitor the allocation of their donations.

Hackney Foodbank believes that facial recognition technology offers users the freedom to acquire what they genuinely need, while alleviating the strain on overwhelmed food banks. Digital payment vouchers are provided to users based on their household size, with restrictions on spending imposed to prevent purchases of large-ticket items, tobacco, and alcohol. Funds cannot be transferred to others. Since partnering with Hackney Foodbank a year ago, FaceDonate has channeled over £65,000 to disadvantaged individuals in northeast London through face scans.

As Britain faces the highest inflation rate in western Europe, with the annual rate reaching 10.1% in March, food banks confront record-breaking demand amid soaring food prices and energy bills. Trussell Trust, which supports a network of 1,300 food bank centers, including Hackney Foodbank, has witnessed a significant increase in demand, distributing three million emergency food parcels in the past year alone.

Chief Executive, Pat Fitzsimons, acknowledged that people often feel ashamed to visit a food bank. With FaceDonate, users are empowered to choose exactly what they need, granting them dignity and agency. The program allows individuals to access fresh and culturally relevant produce that is rarely found in traditional food parcels. Furthermore, it reduces the burden on food banks by requiring fewer volunteers and minimizing logistical expenses.

Despite the benefits, digital rights advocates at Access Now caution that charities employing biometric systems should consider the long-term consequences. Reliance on biometrics, including iris and fingerprint scans, poses risks such as data leaks, identity theft, sale of data, and potential targeting or exposure of marginalized individuals. While facial recognition technology has privacy concerns, it has seen significant growth worldwide, with more than 1.4 billion people projected to adopt facial-recognition payment technology by 2025.

Alberto De Biasio, co-founder of FaceDonate, assured that no user data is stored on their servers and accounts are deleted if users opt out of the service. As customers at the food bank scan their faces and receive digital payment vouchers, the ease and convenience of the technology are apparent. Overall, the implementation of facial recognition technology provides an innovative solution to food insecurity, granting individuals greater choice and autonomy. However, concerns surrounding privacy and data protection must be carefully addressed to ensure the well-being and rights of vulnerable communities.