If you want to book a Ryanair flight via an online travel portal, you have to go through a complicated verification process including facial recognition. The low-cost airline apparently wants one Create a competitive advantage by pushing users to a Ryanair customer account.
Following numerous customer complaints, the Irish Data Protection Commission has issued a Investigation initiated against Ryanair. The reason: If you want to book a Ryanair flight via an online travel portal, you have to go through a complicated verification process including facial recognition.
Facial recognition: Ryanair urges air travelers to open a customer account
However, the procedure does not only raise questions about data protection law. Ryanair also justifies it with an extremely flimsy reason.
Background: The investigation was initiated by Ryanair due to a controversial verification process. Users who booked flights with the low-cost airline via external websites or online travel portals were subsequently asked by email to confirm their identity with Ryanair – including using facial recognition.
Due to numerous customer complaints, data protection officers had already raised the alarm – including the data protection organization noyb in July 2023. The accusation: The company wants to gain a competitive advantage by urging users to open a Ryanair customer account – at the risk of suspected data protection violations.
Questionable justification
Spicy: According to Ryanair, the process is intended to check contact details. However, the company already has all the necessary information when booking via online travel portals. When booking via its own website, the low-cost airline also does not require biometric scans.
The fact that facial recognition systems are used to verify faces and not data such as email addresses makes Ryanair’s justification even more questionable. The company previously wanted to sue online travel portals because they offer Ryanair flights.
Now the low-cost airline has apparently changed its strategy and wants to secure its market position at the expense of its customers’ privacy. It seems obvious that the company is only asking users to complete the “verification process” via online travel portals in order to encourage them to book directly via the Ryanair website.
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The post Customer account or facial recognition: Ryanair harasses air travelers by Fabian Peters appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Customer account or facial recognition technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing the travel experience and streamlining processes for both passengers and airlines. However, it is important for companies like Ryanair to use this technology responsibly and ethically.
In the case of Ryanair allegedly harassing air travelers, it is concerning to hear that facial recognition technology may be misused to target and intimidate customers. This goes against the principles of customer service and privacy that should be upheld in the tech industry.
It is crucial for companies to prioritize customer safety and satisfaction when implementing facial recognition technology, and to ensure that it is used in a respectful and transparent manner. Any misuse of this technology can result in negative consequences for both the company and its customers.
Overall, the tech industry must continue to strive for ethical and responsible use of customer account and facial recognition technology to maintain trust and credibility among consumers. Companies like Ryanair should be held accountable for any actions that harm or inconvenience their customers.
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