The Chinese gaming giant Tencent is introducing facial recognition into the online game Honor of Kings (known locally as Arena of Valor). This is intended to protect younger players, among other things.
In China, it will soon only be possible to play the online game Honor of Kings via facial recognition. According to Tencent, this is intended to counter health problems and protect younger players. However, the system gives the impression of surveillance.
Playing only via facial recognition
Why facial recognition? China’s President Xi Jinping has urged game studios to take responsibility for nearsightedness in China, which is particularly prevalent among youth.
It is believed that excessive gaming is related to the eye disease.
Moreover, dependence on video games has been recognized as a disease in China since 2008, and is actively fought against.
How is facial recognition supposed to work? The gaming company Tencent now wants to use facial recognition software to determine whether players are older than 12 years and if they are sitting too close to the monitor, which would indicate an eye disease.
- The face is scanned using a webcam and compared with the photo on the previously submitted ID card.
- If someone is too close to the monitor, the image blurs.
The facial recognition is a further step of the system introduced by Tencent in 2017, which allows only players over 12 years to log in for a longer period and requires data from the ID card:
- Players under 12 years are only allowed to play for one hour a day between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Minors over 12 years are limited to two hours of playing time.
However, since this system can be circumvented, facial recognition is now being implemented.
Which game is this system used for? The extremely popular MOBA Honor of Kings is particularly in the focus of the Chinese government, known locally as Arena of Valor. It is one of the highest-grossing and most-played online games in China.
A system that can be exploited
What is the problem? The system can of course be abused and in multiple ways:
- On the one hand, this facial recognition with matching of the ID gives the impression of surveillance.
- On the other hand, the webcam feed can be intercepted by hackers. This would allow players to be observed by strangers while playing.
- No one knows whether this technology will also be used outside of China when the software is hidden in the game and then secretly accesses the webcam.
- Facial recognition can be exploited for marketing purposes: Which websites does a person look at particularly intensely? What are the facial and eye reactions to certain products?
- The technology can be misused for a “Social Credit” system. In China, individuals are already rated by a social credit system to assess their creditworthiness, political behavior, and more.
- The data collected by Tencent could be shared with the government without the players’ knowledge.
Why is Tencent doing this? The gaming company does not have a good standing with the Chinese government. The government has already banned Tencent’s Texas Hold ‘Em game as well as chat rooms discussing Tencent’s games.
Games must be reviewed and partially adjusted in China to obtain a license. For example, Monster Hunter World was no longer allowed to be sold in China by Tencent. All of this has already cost Tencent around 200 billion dollars.
When will the system start? The facial recognition system was introduced on September 29 in a trial phase in Honor of Kings. Meanwhile, players are wondering why a function that generally limits playing time is not simply integrated if the goal is to protect youth. The facial recognition goes too far for many.
Right side Bob writes on Techspot: “Just implement a damn protection feature without facial recognition! This is nothing but a trick to gain more power!”
