Secret Bulgarian Group Is Developing Biometric Access System for Public Events

A team in Bulgaria is working on an advanced AI-powered biometric access system, dubbed “Rock 2,” aimed at transforming how public events such as football games and concerts are accessed.

The new system would eliminate the need for traditional tickets or wristbands by using biometrics like fingerprints and facial recognition to verify attendees. At event entrances, AI-driven scanners will check the biometrics against pre-registered data, ensuring only authorized persons can enter, enhancing security and streamlining entry processes.

The project is backed by substantial financial investment, amounting to €7.38 million, making it the largest of 14 AI-related initiatives under Bulgaria’s “Innovations and Competitiveness” Operational Program. The funding is a mix of €4.46 million from the EU and the remainder from private sources.

As Euractiv reports, Bulgaria’s “Fund of Funds” is overseeing at least some significant portion of investment in the project. The Fund of Funds is a state-owned company that manages about €1 billion in capital collected through three European funding programs. As for the group that is actually developing Rock 2, its name is currently being kept secret.

Notably, the system is being designed to recognize individuals even when they are wearing masks, and to integrate seamlessly with existing access systems. It will also include behavioral analytics to detect suspicious actions or distress, adding a layer of proactive security measures.

In broader terms, the effort is part of a significant push within Bulgaria to advance AI technologies, evidenced by other major projects and the establishment of INSAIT in Sofia. This institute, which focuses on cutting-edge computer science and AI research, recently launched BgGPT, a chatbot optimized for the Bulgarian language, reflecting the country’s commitment to AI innovation.

Source: Euractiv

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May 6, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy