Pokémon card scalpers in Japan now face mandatory facial recognition scans
The Pokémon Company is deploying a high-tech, slightly dystopian solution to stop card scalpers in Japan. According to reports from IGN and VGC, a mandatory facial recognition system is being rolled out at stores to enforce purchase limits and prevent repeat visits from the same customer in a single day.
The new system isn't just for adults. Per the company's website, as reported by GameSpot and IGN, the rule applies to all adult customers and children at elementary school age or older. The goal, PC Gamer notes, is to create a safer shopping environment and curb the resale market that drives up prices for genuine collectors.
It's a bold move that puts biometric scanning at the checkout counter for the sake of catching a Charizard. Whether it's a necessary evil or an overreach, one thing's clear: in Japan, you might need to show your face to get your cards.
