Istanbul to Require FRT for Liquor, Cigarette Retailers

The Istanbul government has issued a new mandate requiring liquor stores to install security cameras by January 1, 2025, marking a significant development in the city’s approach to regulating alcohol sales.

In a statement, the Governor’s Office explained that the requirement is aimed at “protecting minors under 18 from harmful habits such as alcohol and cigarettes.” Retailers must implement camera systems to monitor all entrances and exits, sales areas, and even parking lots.

The new rule, which applies to shops selling both cigarettes and alcohol, raises important questions about privacy, surveillance, and government control. The implementation of this measure should be viewed in the context of Turkey’s broader use of facial recognition technology for surveillance purposes. In recent years, the Turkish government has increasingly employed such technology to monitor and identify citizens, particularly those involved in protests or other forms of dissent. This trend suggests that the new requirement for liquor stores may serve purposes beyond simple age verification or crime prevention.

The use of facial recognition technology in retail settings, particularly for age verification, is not entirely uncommon. In the United Kingdom, for instance, some alcohol retailers have piloted biometric age verification systems to prevent underage sales. However, the mandatory nature of Istanbul’s requirement, coupled with Turkey’s history of using such technology for surveillance, sets this case apart from voluntary implementations in other countries.

There are concerns that this measure could be part of a broader strategy to monitor citizens’ behavior and consumption habits. The Turkish government, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has previously used facial recognition software to identify protesters and critics of the government. This history raises questions about whether the data collected from liquor store cameras might be used for purposes beyond age verification or crime prevention.

Elsewhere, the technology is helping to improve consumer experiences. For instance, Turkish Airlines has already embraced face-scanning technology at airports to streamline processes, indicating a broader acceptance and integration of biometric systems in public and private sectors.

As facial recognition technology continues to evolve and expand globally, its deployment in Istanbul’s liquor stores could set a precedent for other cities and countries grappling with similar regulatory challenges. The balance between security, privacy, and civil liberties remains a critical issue as governments and businesses increasingly turn to biometric solutions.

Sources: Duvar English, Nordic Monitor

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November 29, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith