A subway station in Shanghai has triggered public debate after passengers complained they were required to undergo facial recognition scans just to leave the station temporarily to use the toilet.
The controversy began after a female commuter, identified as Ms Zhang, shared her experience while transferring between Line 13 and Line 11 at Longde Road Station.
According to reports, the station’s restroom is located outside the paid fare area, meaning passengers must briefly exit the station before re-entering.
However, Ms Zhang claimed staff instructed her to complete a facial recognition registration before she could leave to use the toilet.
She was reportedly told that upon returning, she would need to scan her face again so the system could automatically cancel out the entry and exit records without charging an extra fare.
Ms Zhang criticised the policy, saying she was uncomfortable with using biometric identification for something as simple as going to the toilet.
“I think there are major privacy risks. Facial recognition should not be used in situations like this,” she reportedly said.
She also argued that other subway stations simply issue temporary access cards or allow staff to manually assist passengers instead of relying on facial scans.
“This is not a bank or financial institution. There’s no need to treat facial recognition as the only option,” she added.
The incident quickly sparked heated discussion online, with opinions divided among netizens.
Some passengers defended the system, saying facial recognition improves convenience and efficiency in busy stations.
Others, however, expressed concerns over data privacy, cyber security risks and the growing use of biometric technology in everyday life.
Station staff later explained that the system was introduced because the station handles around 100,000 passengers daily.
According to station representatives, requiring staff to manually assist every passenger temporarily leaving the station for restroom access would create delays and disrupt traffic flow.
The facial recognition system was therefore introduced to allow commuters to complete the process independently and more efficiently.
The incident has since reignited wider conversations in China about privacy concerns and the increasing use of facial recognition technology in public spaces.
