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Forgot your password (密码) or your ID? Well, you’ll never forget your face. Using your face as your ID is quick and convenient. You could take the subway or board a flight with just your face alone. This is how facial recognition (人脸识别) works. It has also been used to catch criminals (罪犯).

In China, facial recognition systems have been used in many areas. In Zhengzhou, people can now get on the subway by using facial recognition technology. They just need to link their online payment systems to the subway’s smartphone app. Students at Peking University can pass through the school’s gate by scanning their face.

However, there are no laws to regulate (规范) the use and collection of facial information. Many citizens are worried about the collection and use of this information by governments and companies. Why is it necessary to collect data (数据) about your face and what will the data be used for? These are some common questions on the facial recognition.

“I feel uncomfortable because I don’t know how the company is using my facial information or whether the company will leak my facial information,” Feng Yi, a tourism company employee (雇员) said. Leaks are a problem because there is a long history of companies failing to protect our data. When someone steals your personal information, you can change your bank card and password, but can you change your face when your facial information is stolen?

As facial recognition is used more and more in our daily lives — from college campuses and subways to street corners and smartphones — we must ask ourselves whether this new technology is worth the risk or not.