Moscow Region Authorities Introduce Silhouette Recognition System
The supplier of facial recognition systems for city cameras, NtechLab, has reached an agreement with the Moscow Region and two other undisclosed regions to implement a silhouette recognition system. This technology will allow authorities to collect anonymized data on visits to public places and events, according to the company’s statement to Kommersant.
NtechLab did not specify which other regions will use the system, but explained that the AI-powered software, when integrated with city cameras, can count the number of visitors, analyze their routes, and more. The system has already been deployed at 200 locations, including parks, sports and cultural venues, bus stops, and medical facilities.
The software recognizes silhouettes and stores the data in the form of analytical reports and tables, which are deleted after a period set by the client. Irina Krivenkova, the company’s commercial director, explained that the system helps identify overcrowded locations, and data from cameras at bus stops can be used, for example, to plan routes.
Vyacheslav Metelev, Deputy Minister of State Administration, Information Technology, and Communications of the Moscow Region, told the publication that modern technologies have helped strengthen control over public safety and crime prevention. Access to the system’s data may be granted to law enforcement officers, lawyers upon a person’s request, as well as management and insurance companies.
In January, Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov announced that more than 82,000 surveillance cameras had been installed in the region, with plans to add another 25,000 this year. At least 20,000 building entrances are expected to be equipped with cameras featuring facial recognition. According to city officials, Moscow has 213,000 surveillance cameras installed.
NtechLab was founded in 2015 and, in 2017, agreed to connect its system to Moscow’s citywide video surveillance network. In 2020, facial recognition video surveillance was launched in ten more major cities. That same year, the company raised $15 million to develop new products, including vehicle and aggressive behavior recognition.