The Pokémon Company is introducing facial recognition technology at five pop-up shops in Japan in an effort to address the rampant scalping and associated issues plaguing the Pokémon trading card game. This move comes as the market for TCG products continues to see extreme price inflation and increased instances of theft.
Under the new system, customers aged elementary school age and older will be subject to facial scans. The technology is intended to ensure that individuals cannot make multiple purchases or repeatedly visit the stores within a single day. The company stated that if the system detects a customer attempting to circumvent these rules, their entry will be denied. This policy will be in effect for the Japanese release of the Rayquaza-themed Storm Emeralda set, which will launch concurrently with the Pokémon TCG Pocket application.
Refusal to undergo facial recognition will result in denial of entry to the stores. While customers may leave and re-enter for necessary reasons such as using the restroom, they must inform store employees beforehand. Younger children will be permitted entry but only when accompanied by a guardian. The collected facial data will be promptly deleted after a specified period.
These stringent measures align with broader efforts to manage store safety. The Pokémon Company's privacy policy indicates it may collect a range of data, including photographs, audio recordings, and personal identification details, for purposes such as payment processing and market research. While not explicitly stated, this data collection could theoretically be utilized in efforts against scalpers.
The company also cited safety management as a key reason for these changes, referencing a prior incident in March where a Pokémon Center store closed following the death of an employee due to an alleged stalker. The Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is scheduled to reopen in August.
While there is currently no indication that these facial recognition or government ID requirements will be implemented outside of Japan, the situation in the United States mirrors the issues seen in Japan, with high card prices contributing to violent incidents. Fans in affected regions may see these measures as a potential solution to a growing problem.